Postcard from...Sweet Home, Chicago, USA

Hi Jim-sensei

La Chambre de Van Gogh a Arles

I came to Chicago to see International Housewares Show.

I got a chance to go to Chicago Museum. There are a lot of fine arts & I was inspired by Van Gogh's paints. It was a really good experience for me.

Tomoko

The Golden Game - Super Bowl 50

On February 8th the NFL Super bowl was held. In Japan, it wasn’t noticed that much and I didn’t know before I read a magazine. It was great fun watching it on YouTube.

Denver Broncos logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

First, successive generations of MVP came out whom I didn’t know. When Tom Brady came out, there was booing. I wonder what had happened. The Entrance performance was very flashy with fireworks and it was cool. The person who sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” was Lady Gaga. She was Fantastic.

I didn’t know the rules, but after kick off, the Broncos quickly scored and I couldn’t believe the speed of switching offense and defense. The Broncos defense was so good that Panthers couldn’t do what they wanted, but I think both defenses were very aggressive.

The half time sow was great. Beyoncé and Bruno Mars sang. It was great for them to sing in front of that huge number of people.

In the third and fourth quarters, the Broncos gradually left the Panthers behind and the Broncos finally won. I learnt that offense is important, but defense is more important. I want to learn more about it and enjoy watching NFL games much more.

The Recent Weather in Ina

Japan has many “four-character idioms”.“SanKanShiOn” is one of them. It means alternation of three cold and four warm days.This March I can feel it more than ever before.

It snowed every 10days. But usually by the next day, the highest temperature is around 15 to 20 degrees…like spring! I don’t need a winter coat on a warm day. But I need it in the morning, night time and cold days. So I can’t change my wardrobe for the new season yet. And I cannot change my car tires.

Recently I can see some flowers have started blooming even weeds.
Just the one unfortunate thing …there are gale-force winds as seasons change.I don’t like chilly and windy weather.  But I’m enjoying seeing Japanese plum tree and snow in my garden.

Takato park in Ina is very famous for cherry blossoms.So I’m looking forward to visiting there in April.

Have you ever been to the park? You must visit there in the beginning of April.

If this weather like this month continues you can see cherry blossoms and snow at the same time. If so what a wonderful view!

But anyway I hope spring comes soon! Can’t wait!

After reading - a short history of religion in Japan

There are 8 million gods in Japan long long ago. For example, there is a god in the river, forest, and

mountain. The ancient people believed those natural gods in Japan.

The middle of six century, the buddhism came from Korea. The religion war happened with Mononobe and the Imperial Court. It was the first religion war of the Japanese history.

Mononobe supported traditional Japanese gods, the Imperial Court supported the Buddhism. At the end the Imperial Court won. But Japanese traditional gods never died out. The Imperial Court supported Buddhism and Japanese gods.

After that, Buddhism had many religion. They never had big troble with each Buddhism religion.

But 19 century, revolution happened in Japan, new government commanded Buddhism change to godist. After that, Japanese emperor is living god till the world II war finished.

Now, Japanese family have a 'Kamidana' and a 'Butsudan'. Kamidana is godist, Butsudan is Buddhism.

Both religion have been staying in Japanese people now. It is very rare case all over the world. Japanese love ambiguity. I think that both religion suit Japanese.

Posted for Misuzu

After-reading - 10 day trip to England

I am planning on going to England this summer. I have not been to England. Therefore after all I will go to the biggest city London first.

I want to go to Buckingham Palace, the Queen’s London home in London. And I want to see the palace inside after making a reservation beforehand. I will take a photograph with the soldiers outside.

I will go to the various places in London, beautiful Westminster Abbey, famous building the Tower of London, solemn St Paul’s Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, etc. I want to see many artworks which were collected from all over the world in the British Museum. So I will have enough time in the British Museum.

My plan is ten days. I do not have enough time. Next to London, I am planning on going only another one place to Corn Wall. I want to go to St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

I will walk there when the sea goes out. And I will visit the old castle and church in there. Next, I want to go to the Minack Theatre in Cornwall. I will watch plays in the theatre－it is outside. 

I have a lot of things what I want to do during the trip. I want to go English pub, and I want to drink in stylish clothes. I will buy nice tea in tea shops in towns all across England for a souvenir. And I want to go to Harrods in London. So I will buy stylish dress and bag, for me.

Ten days trip is short. I will choose the places that I can’t go this time for next England trip plan.

Posted for Reiko

After reading - a summary of another Sherlock Holmes story

The Red-Headed League

One day a man visited Sherlock Holmes. He was confused by his recent mysterious experience. He was a master of pawnshop with red hair . He told the whole story to Holmes and Dr. Watson.

He employed a salesclerk who worked well and don’t mind working for low salary. A couple months later the salesclerk came with a newspaper and showed him a notice in the papers. It said an association of red hair man was looking for a member and member could get much salary for easy work. The salesclerk suggested him frequently to apply for membership of the association. A lot of red-hair men applied and he was adopted only. He had to stay an office from morning to afternoon and do boring job(to copy an encyclopedia? I’m not sure.) At the end of the week he received special much money. He went to the office and worked and got money every week. (Two or three months went by) one morning he found the office shut. There wasn’t any contact from the association and nobody knew about it. So he visited Sherlock Holmes.

The big project was attempted. Robbers tried to make an invasion upon a large safe of the basement of a bank. They digged tunnel to the safe and it went along just under the pawnshop. They had to make him go out not to notice the noise of construction.

Of course robbers were all arrested before stolen.

Posted for Misako

After reading - an angry letter

I write to tell you, Josef, that your wife is dead. On Christmas night the guards shot her on the road at the border. She carried Pavel - your baby son,and my grandson- on her back.

Pavel was saved by a miracle. I thought Lenka protected her son. I loved Lenka very much - my valuable daughter. I was bereaved of my beloved daughter. Your 'friends' came and told me yesterday. 

You have Jan,and a new life in England. You took one grandson away from me and now my daughter is dead - because of you !! I never liked your work for freedom. I didn't understand. You were dangerous person for us. I just wanted a quiet family life.

Now What do I have? I only have Pavel!! I can't live after this without Pavel. I want live with Pavel as long as I live!! Don't worry about Pavel. Don't worry about me.

Don't write to me, and Don't write to Pavel, and Don't come back to Prague. I never want to see you or hear from you again.

Stanislave

Posted for Yoko

The curse of the Black Pearl: after reading

Write a letter

...from Elizabeth to a friend the day after she found Will in the water

Hello, Clare.


It’s been a long time. What have you been up to?
There was an exciting story for me recently. I would like to tell you about this above all.
On the way home in England by ship, our ship was wrapped by very dark fog suddenly.
When the fog cleared off, to be impossible, we found the boy in the right middle of sea. We saved him in haste and took him to our ship. However, I have no idea why he was in the sea then. Where did he come from? There was no ship except our ship then.
I knew his name was Will later. He is a very beautiful and attractive boy. However, he didn’t remember anything but his name. He wore the medallion when he was saved by us, but I took it from him when he was asleep. I don’t know why I did such a thing then. But I feel like that the medallion is the key to find his secret.
I will try to find his secret from now on. So I would like you to help me with it. This is the secret between only us. Don’t tell anyone about it.

If you accept my proposal, why don’t you come to our house to meet him once?

Best regards,

Elizabeth

Aftrer reading_King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table

The Grail

Many stories have been told about the Grail. What do you think it is?



I think the Grail has ever been told in a lot of story. However, the stories I know except “King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table” are the movie, “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” and “The Da Vinci code”.

In “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, the Grail was described as what makes perpetual youth and longevity possible. The purpose of the story is to find the Grail. In the climax scene, the hero of the story, Indiana received from the knight of the Grail and saved his father in the cave. He was able to escape from the cave which is collapsing by forsaking taking the Grail in the end.

In “The Da Vinci code”, the Grail was described as the symbol of the lady. The ground father of Sophy who is the heroin of the story was killed anyone. She and cryptologist who is a friend of her ground father try to find who killed him. On the way, they find the Grail is related with his death. In the end of the story, it turns out that the heroin of the story, Sophy is the person who is descended from Jesus Christ and she is exactly the Grail. The Grail is not even material in this story.

The Grail was described as various thing as per the above two stories. However, I’m sure that the two stories are very interesting. I think the Grail is like spice which makes the story very interesting.

Letter from the future

Dear Harl,

When you read this, I would not be in the earth but I am happy if you could find this letter.

Now the world has been changed… not as I thought but nobody could image current world. As I said, the project X could be successful by us, the group of Drewitt’s. All Children and animals could have the telepath. I was very glad that all humans and living could know each other. But the tragedy had been started from that moment. Most of children could not live until 20 years old. Perhaps one in a hundred grew to be twenty. Do you think why they could not live for a long time? They killed by the telepath itself. Some of them shot themselves or jumped off buildings and many children have been dead.

I thought the world might be brilliant because of the telepath, but now the world seems to be going to dead, suicide by them. I understand I was wrong, but we could not stop the telepath… I am really sorry and miss you so much now, but I know it is too late.

I hope we could meet again future generation after we died.

Ellen

After Reading - Five Famous Fairy Stories

“Love can make everybody stupid.” 

Is this true?

I think this is true. Because love can make me stupid. If I love a man who is in a trouble, I try everything I can do to help him.

Sometime we can’t see everything except lover, and we can’t hear everything except lover’s. So sometime we make mistakes.

Some people received violence from their lover, but they don’t escape from them. After they received violence, the lover say sorry or they won’t using violence from now, they can forgive them. On the contrary they believe that they are only person who can understand about lover. If someone say they should part from their lover, they wouldn’t like to part more and more.

If people are asked to lend money from their lover, some people lend money. Sometimes they are in trouble when they decide to part from their lover.

On the other hand, people love their lover too much, they distress their lover. For example, they too worry about their lover to restraint upon the freedom of their lover. Not to meet the other (sex), not to talk with other (sex), not to found attractive…

I think everybody feel jealousy if their lover talk with other too friendly. I think love can make everybody stupid. Only some people represent their feeling and behave their feeling directly but everybody is same in our heart, I think.

The Black Pearl - Shiver my timbers

What is good/bad about a pirate’s life?

My imagination of pirate is as the pirate in this movie. There are a lot of difference between my life and pirate’s.

I think the worst thing about pirate’s life is they have no home on the ground. So if the weather is bad, they have to stay in the ship on the sea. Maybe they have a lot of stock of food and alcohol. But they are not live alone, so they can’t eat or drink a lot anytime. And they don’t have time to spend alone.

I don’t have good impression for the pirate, but they may lead a well-regulated life. For example, every day they get up, have a meal, and go to bed same time. They look free, but actually they aren’t free, I think. They have rules and if someone break them, it is a matter of life and death to him/her. And they have a lot of dangerous in their life.

When they take something from other ship, the other ship’s crew may attack them to stave off a danger. And also sea is sometimes dangerous as I wrote before.

I don’t think they buy what they need in a shop like us, so sometimes they may not be able to take the thing they want to.

I think there are a lot of bad things about pirate’s life. I think my life is extremely better than them.

An inspiring colleague - I wish I was that good

Ikuko-sensei

I have had the wonderful privilege of working with this fabulous young teacher for the last two and a half years, at Sasabe kindergarten (in Matsumoto). Had to say goodbye today, but only after she melted the hearts of everyone at final assembly announcing her departure. And bless, Encho-sensei asked all the gobsmacked children "Can you hear that?"...kids looking around. "I can hear a heart beat. We are not losing Ikuko-sensei, we will have a new little friend". Awesome.

Most recently Ikuko has been senior teacher (and therefor my boss), responsible for absolutely everything from making drinks for visitors to dealing with parents, managing first aid emergencies, setting out chairs & making decorations, filling bags & co-ordinating rotas, organising parties & moving drums, jumping in at a moment's notice to cover teachers and backing up everybody on the staff. I think she maybe even changed the tyres on the school's buses!

Momo-gumi champion

When I was very new to kindy teaching, I was overwhelmed with the idea of spending a day with the teeniest ones - and a teacher who boldly told me "No English!"...she was more or less right about that, but her attitude & style was anything but - come on Jim-sensei what's this, and 'help', and...and...bowled me over with her enthusiasm, calmness in the centre of eternal storms, and love. I christened a new style of teaching after her: Smile Deprivation. The very last thing her class wanted was for her radiant smile to fade into a frown and her cheeks to puff out (a brilliant bit of body language I'd never seen deployed before in a class!) - not because the frown was a portent of teacher losing her rag, but that her happy full-face smile missing was like the sun being eclipsed. And how her little class managed each other to get that smile back asap?! And I still don't think she knows how hard that is for the rest of us triers to pull off even half as well - let alone convincingly!

It is very hard to describe how magical teachers can glide through a room shedding warmth & love without distracting everyone or putting off the room teacher. Add to the vibe in the room without being a magnet for attention? One hell of a trick. I try to slip into a room and pandemonium breaks out - kids pointing at my paunch & sotto voce "baby" until I want to clout them!

And to become a senior teacher within a very close-knit staff, some of whom peers from college and still keep that smile working? Still remember every child's name and be wonderful? A class act.

Luckiest young man alive!

I've seen loads of demo classes, countless presentations, workshops with genki this & TPR that, up & down the country. I've been in classrooms from universities & corporate HQs, high schools, you name it. I would be struggling to think of a teacher who has impressed me more, without appearing to try at all, than Ikuko-sensei. A teachers' teacher, and an absolute gem. I learned heaps watching her cast her spells.

Thank you Ikuko-sensei for sharing your classroom with me, and for being so enthusiastically wonderful. You truly are an inspiring educator. Sniff sniff!

A postcard from Kaivalyadhama, India

Dear Damian,

Hello. How are you?
I have stay in India 1 weeks ago. I feel comfortable here. Everyday, early morning to until evening, I have to study yoga method. So hard but I was satisfied with learn here.
When I will come back to Japan, I want to restart lesson.

See you again.

From Rumi

After-reading - a letter to one of Henry's wives

Dear Katherine

Thank you for sending me a letter. When I read your letter, I remembered our wonderful times.After my brother Arthur died, I became your husband. I was so happy because you were graceful and dignified. I enjoyed horse-riding, playing teinnis,writing and playing music together.

But you were religious Christian.So you were too strict to your life. And then you miscarriaged mamy times.We have only a daugther.

Once there had only ever been one Queen in England and that was a terrible time, with a lot of fighting and killing. I don't want that to happen again after my death. If we have had some sons, our future would absolutely change.

I really want to have a son in this terrible time.

Even the Catholic Church and you will never agree this dovorce,I won't care this. Because I am the King of England. I can do everything.

I'll send this neclace with a gold cross to my daugther Mary.

King of England

Henry VIII

Posted for Hiroko

After-reading - Sally's column

Today I want my readers to know one miracle person. His name is Anthony Evans.

He is a very famous pianist. I thought he started to learn the piano when he was three like Mozart. But he was forteen years old before he touched a piano for the first time. It is a very strange and exciting story.

Tony Evans was the name when he was a boy. Tony wasn't a clever boy but he liked only music lessons. His family was poor so he had to work Mr Wood's farm from he was thirteen. He worked very hard for Mr Wood. Mr Wood was kind to him. Tony was happy.

One day Tony found an old piano. His fingers began to move when he touched the piano. He could play an old song from then. He practised the piano very hard, and he became a very famous pianist.

Perhaps I can say that the didn't find the piano but that piano found him.

Posted for Olga

After-reading - A farewell letter

Dear Ellen,

When you read this letter, I will be frozen. I know you are surprised very much. But, please do not cry for me, because I am not died. I am just sleeping in the freezer.

I did not tell you that I was very sick. But to tell you the truth, I was HIV positive, AIDS. Doctor told me I was going to die in a year. I was shocked. I did not know what to do. And I could not tell you about this, because I did not want you to worry about me and nobody could help me anyway.

After my father died you were the only my family, and you helped me so much. I was happy to have a sister like you. Thank you for everything you did for me.

One day, I met Dan Future and his wife Linda who worked for the cryonic company. Their business was very interesting. They said I could be frozen till someone's going to find a cure of AIDS. I had 2 choices. One was doing nothing and die soon, another was sleeping in the freezer and alive again. Fortunately, I had enough money to do it. I decided to be frozen. You do not have to worry about me and my house. They will take care of both. They save my life. And if you want see me you can visit me anytime.

I think I can not see you again, but I hope you will have a good happy life. Good-by Ellen.

I love you.

your brother AL

Posted for Yasumi

After reading - The Children of the New Forest

Write about a time you have spent on a farm

 

My parents have rice field next to their house and the farm work is annual event for my family.  

 

In spring, we start the farm work after long winter.  We plow the fields and spread fertilize in the field.  We used to grow the rice seedlings by ourselves.  My parents needed to take care of rice seedlings according to temerature.  It needed a lot of efforts because the weather is changeable in April.  The temperature goes up like early summer, then it snows sometimes even in middle of April.  So, we finally decided to buy the rice seedlings from the professional farmer.

 

In early May, it is the season for rice planting.  The fields are filled by water and shine in the sun.  My brother operates rice planter and all other members help him to pass the rice seedlings and wash the pots at the river.

 

In September, we harvest rice.  The rice harvest is harder work than planting.  The relatives come and help us to collect the tied rice and put them on the bar for dry.  It takes all day long.  After drying for about two weeks, we thresh the rice and all farm work is finished with newly harvested rice.

 

I always feel the bonds with my family through farm work and am glad to have my son help together.

After reading – The Year of Sharing

The Naked - There's a 'reality' TV show of people being left in very remote places, without any clothes, tools etc with an unknown partner, to survive for 21 days. Imagine this was you, in a forest like Richard. How would you survive - or fail?


     It is very difficult for me to imagine if I can survive without any clothes, tools etc with an unknown partner for 21 days as the current life is full of tools and very convenient.
     Anyway, imagining I am in a forest, I will look for the place that I can stay safety and comfortably first.  It should be like a cave on a higher place to avoid the attack by foreign enemies.  In addition, I learned from the book that smells are lost in water.  So, it is better to near river or lake.
     Secondly, I will find something that I can eat.  I like fruits, so I would like to get them as many as possible.  However, it will be not enough to survive for 21 days.  Therefore, I will try to catch fishes in river.  I prefer to meets, but I am not sure I can kill animals.  Moreover, I will have to build a fire to grill the fishes.  It should be very tough job.
     Finally, I want to find a friendly partner.  If I have a partner like monkey, I can learn about the forest more and must be encouraged in the life without people.

After reading_Apollo 13

・Man has not walked on the moon for nearly 50 years.

Should we try to return there?

Why/why not?

I think Man try to return the moon because there would be big discovery in the moon for the Man! There might be an alien. Man could become friend with an alien. An alien might be tell us new technology which human don’t have the technology and human technology will be improve.

In addition, we have a problem. Human popularity is growing and food will not be enough to full the growing people in the near future. So, the Moon would be become field grow the food if human find way to grow in the Moon. Also, I heard that living space is becoming limit under current human growing. If human find way or improve technology to live in the Moon, the Moon would become human place to live.

If we can live in the Moon, it is easy to travel from the earth to the moon. The moon will be very close planet for us. If we can go the moon easily, many vehicle like airplane, train and space shuttle would be more improve than current things. It will be give us good benefit to our life.

Story-Based Approach - Chiyuki Yanase

Shinshu JALT were able to hold yet another successful event, this time at Matsumoto M-Wing on March 6, thanks to the fantastic and ever so charismatic presenter  Chiyuki Yanase, who made the trip up from Tokyo! There was plenty to take away from Chiyuki's co-constructive presentation (read: lots of teacher/student interaction. Yes, I was paying attention!)  'Story-Based Approach' for young learners, from theory to demonstrations, additional resources plus book recommendations.

Story time

It was very much a 'hands on' workshop, where we took part in many pre, while and post reading activities, usually working in small groups to build and collect ideas.  The activities catered for a broad range of language ability while simultaneously being adjustable to suit the interests and needs of the students. 

It was tremendous fun taking part in these activities, especially as it allowed an outlet for my competitive side! The entire room was gripped with each activity from start to finish. It also provided me with an insight into how to reproduce the same effects in my own classroom, and I feel as though I am now equipped with the means to generate the same buzz and excitement when we open our reading books at Luna.

Many thanks to Chiyuki Yanase especially, and to all participants for making this such a memorable event.

Take-Away Japan

In Japan, many people think their own health is very important. So, quite healthy take-away restaurants like Hokka-ben and Hokka-motto are looked upon well.

However, many Japanese people do like fried food & hamburgers. There are McDonald's, Mos-Burger, KFC and we can even get take-away ramen. Japanese eating style has greatly changed since the end of the war. It is getting oilier & unhealthier.

Although it is unhealthy, we cannot help eating fried chicken, chips & nuggets, when we know how delicious they are!

By Takuro

Check out the vocab for this article in the magazine, for learners at CEFR B1/B2 https://quizlet.com/115775930/club-jan-feb-2016-take-away-britain-flash-cards/

Merlin emails King Arthur at Camelot

l  Merlin does email in his cave

to: King Arthur at Camelot.

Hi Arthur,

Maybe you do not believe my story when you read this letter.. Because I'm writing this letter in the cave!! One day I followed Vivian who can use magic very much. She requested me to show magic cave inside, so we went to the cave. We climbed a high mountain and came to a dark place with a lot of trees and a small river.

I taught a lot of magic to her and she was one of the best students. So I could not believe first time as she is very smart and kind.

I went to the cave at the head and she followed me. Suddenly she ran out the cave quickly and said magic word to close the cave. Unfortunately, I tried to escape from the cave but I could not go out there. The door was not move if I used magic. I shouted to outside to help but there is no one, so no one noticed me..

Anyway I will enjoy time during staying at cave. I am tired to live at present time so it is nice time to relax. There is no one to annoy me:)  

I am little sad as I cannot hear your success story but I hope to hear good news soon!

Best regards,

Merlin

Five famous fairy stories

l  Beautiful daughter

What three impossible tasks would you set to any young man wanting to marry your daughter?

If some young men want to marry my beautiful daughter, I would set impossible task for them.

First, I ask them to give me a medicine for the elixir of life. Immortality is for subject of human as many famous King or Queen wanted to get the immorality to keep their power but there is no way to live forever. The medical is improving but it is impossible to be immortality under current skill. As well as, I ask young men to give proof for the medicine if they can provide. Example, they bring the immorality person, animal etc.. I want to avoid any lie when young men bring the medicine because it is difficult to judge whether the medicine is real even if I take the medicine as it is not sure I am to be immortality.

Second, I ask young men to give me “time machine”. It is impossible to travel past or future now. Some scientist is studying the mechanism for time traveling but there is no way as of today. If there would be the time machine in the world, I wanted to travel for Edo period. I want to see famous people who are written in text and take picture for the people. I send the photo or update in the internet, I would be rich because the picture is valuable.

I think this request is also very hard for young men. I don’t want to give my daughter for young men!

Third, I ask young men to give me machine to produce money forever. Of course it is real money can be produced. I don’t go police! I would like to be rich!

International Women's Day - #OneDayIWill

You may be aware that today is International Women's Day. For the occasion, and to support the hashtag #OneDayIWill, we got our female students to finish off the tweet in their own words.

Mrs X: #OneDayIWill go to other country and make a lot of youngman friends

Reiko: #OneDayIWill go to another country with my children

Yukari: #OneDayIWill be a billionaire $$

Yuka: #OneDayIWill study English in different country!!

Megumi: #OneDayIWill get much money and go to many countries by gorgeous ship

Eleanor: #OneDayIWill be a patissier

Rie: #OneDayIWill be slim belly and dance on stage!

Hakeu: #OneDayIWill give to my family more relaxing life