Tuesday 31 May 2016

Reiko - My typical morning and afternoon

At weekday, I usually get up about 5:45-6:00. Then I usually make my husband's lunchbox. And I wake my children up and serve their breakfast. I always take Hinata and Hikari to school with Hiro at 7:10 on foot. I go back home at 8:00. Then I usually have breakfast and do housework. I take Hiro to kindergarden at 9:00 by car. Then I usually do housework but I go to English classe on Tuesday.
At weekend, I usually get up at 7:00, because my children get up early by theirself. My husband always has work half a day or all day at the weekend, I usually have breakfast with my children and do housework.

I usually have lunch about 12:00 at home, but sometimes have lunch with my friend at restaurant. I always pick up Hiro from kindergarden at 15:00, Then I sometimes pick up Hikari and Hinata from school. Then I always take my children to their English classes piano and gymkids at weekday. I usually go back home about 18:00-18:30, then I make dinner.




Posted for Reiko

Monday 30 May 2016

After reading – King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

Evil women: Which is the worst woman in the story? Why?


I think that Morgan le Fay is the worst woman in the story.  I felt fear when we knew that she could do magic, but she only used her magic for bad things.

Morgan le Fay pretended to be King Arthur’s kind friend, but actually she hated him and she wanted him to die.  He and his wife Queen Guinevere believed her, so did not realize her evil plans.  She used an evil knight Sir Damas and King Arthur’s knights to try to kill him.  His knights could not realize that they fought their king because of their helmets.  What is worse, King Arthur’s Excalibur was replaced with a sword from Morgan le Fay’s magic.  Therefore, King Arthur could not hurt the knights and was hurt badly by his Excalibur which the knights had.

King Arthur, however, was very brave and did not stop fighting.  Fortunately, King Arthur was safe although he was wounded badly.  I think it is not expected by Morgan le Fay.

However, Morgan le Fay knew that King Arthur was staying with the nuns to get the treatment.  She visited the nuns and stole his magic scabbard from the end of his bed.  King Arthur realized that and followed her, but the scabbard was thrown into the black lake and he never found it.


I was afraid of Morgan le Fay’s implacableness at the end of Chapter 4.


After reading - Stories from the Five Towns

Which was your favorite story? 

Why (or why didn't you like one of the other stories)? 

The most favorite story of the five stories is “The burglary”. Sir Jee was neither good man nor bad man, he just had a lot of money and used it for himself ,not for the other people. We can easily imagine such kind of man around us. So, it is very funny that Sir Jee was trying to bluff but got taken easily in by the thief conversely.

 This story is a good lesson for us. In case we got a lot of money, we should use it for the other people, not only for my own. The worst story for me is “The silent brothers”. I could not like all characters in this story. The brothers are so adamant and stupid. They can talk each other if there is any chance to get lots of money. They should have recognized how they wasted their time earlier than Annie tested in love for her. Annie and Powell looks good people, but they tested the brothers and put them in one room finally… I could not understand why he did. If he was a good friend of them, I think there is another way to guide them back to the right path.

Friday 27 May 2016

A successful presentation - Informative posters

Hiroko
Naoko
Ever get butterflies in your stomach or a sense of dread when asked to give a presentation? Hate public speaking? Then here are some posters to help you settle those nerves and shake off any anxiety.


Olga
Yasumi
Having studied how to give a successful presentation, I thought it would be a good idea for my students to put everything they have learned into an informative poster so others may benefit also. Four very different approaches and styles, which did you find the most useful/helpful?



Friday 20 May 2016

After-reading - robots in Japan

Aibo and Asimo are the personal robots that Japan can boost to the world.

Aibo was introduced in 1999 by Sony and created a new market of “entertainment robot” or “pet robot”. It was the first robot that made people to think to have a robot at home and the sales of it went quite successful. Some people even now keep their own Aibo at home and feel as if it is a part of their family. While many people got bored with their pets, some people are facing “pet loss” when their Aibo “dies” for not being able to get fixed as Sony stopped producing the parts any more.

Introduction of Asimo in 1996 also surprised people for its high technology that Honda had achieved. Walking on two feet, Asimo was the first biped robot designed to be a multifunctional mobile assistant. It is said that before marketing in Europe Honda wanted to ensure Christian countries would not resist man-shaped robot, so they sent delegates to the pope for his opinion. The answer from the Pope was “Honda’s invention is one of God’s will”.

After the introduction of Asimo, many makers around the world started to develop humanoid robots. It seems that we will soon be able to make robot friends in next few decades, and possible have C3PO and R2D2 as member of our family.




Posted for Naomi

Thursday 19 May 2016

After-reading - Eastern Europe in the 1950s

In the 1950's in Eastern Europe was dark age. It was communism government. There was a secret police. There were spies all over the country. If someone said "communism was not good" we were arrested by secret police. The seacret police and spies were our neighbor, our friends, our teacher. They didn't have free in the 1950's.

Western Europe and American culture were bad culture. Jazz, rock, they were tipical of rotten Western culture. They couldn't listen Western music. If they want to listen to Jazz. They dealed at black marcket and listen very quietly sound.

They couldn't talk by telephone freely. The secret police listened their conversation. It was bugging! If they send letter to Westrns, it would be opened by secret police. It was terrible age. There was no freedom. It is just like North Korea now.




Posted for Misuzu

Wednesday 18 May 2016

After-reading - An e-mail to Queen Elizabeth

Dear Queen of England Elizabeth

You are afraid to let me go free because I have friends in England. The English Catholics want me to be Queen of England. not you.
But I don't want to so.
Before I asked you for help, but you didn't give me your army. Then the Earl of Moray told lies about me. Bothwell and I didn't kill Darnley! It's true! Really true!!
Scotland people don't want a Catholic Queen. They want a Protestant king, a king like James.
And Moray and his friends killed Riccio and stole my husband Bothwell and my son.
Elizabeth!  Do you know what to do?   Really to do?
Would you please talk James the true story?
Please think about England and Scotland. we are Queens.
Please let me go free!
I want to go back to Scotland!
and I want to see James alive!


 Mary




Posted for Yoko

Postcard from Astana, Kazakhstan

Dear Jim,

An apartment block in Astana
I went to Astana in Kazakhstan. There was Asia rhythmic gymnastics competition and I was working as Japan's judge. Our team won the gold medal. There were a lot of great performances over five days. I was very busy. 

Astana is a very beautiful city. There is a lot of development, with big buildings and apartments in the center. My hotel was lovely my room was large and the bed was really comfortable. At night there was a big light show.

Kazakh people eat a lot of horse meat. I did not like it very much, but other food was ok. I could eat egg-plant, gherkin, and coriander.

I made a lot of new friends, from Iran, Singapore, Thailand, India, North Korea, and Taiwan.

The weather was great - sunny every day but nice and cool. I like Kazakhstan but it is a very long way; I had to wait for seven hours in Tashkent.

From Aoi

Tuesday 17 May 2016

After-reading - Misako imagines planning a trip to England

First I'd like to go to Lake District, and visit  Grasmere, William Wordsworth's  home and Beatrix Potter's musium.
Then go to Liverpool, see  Cathedral and visit some places of "Beetles".
I'd like to go to Stradford-upon-Avon, pretty town, visit William Shakespeare's house and watch the stage play at Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
Last I stay in London one or two days and visit some famous places.

If possible I'd like to stay at manor house, but I'm afraid it is inconvinient or uncomfortable.




Posted for Misako