Postcard from...Cairns, Australia

G’day! Australia

   My family went to Cairns, Queensland, Australia from 30^th Dec. 2018 to 6^th Jan. 2019. I had been to Australia 3 times, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Albany. I researched about Australian education when I was a graduate student so it has been familiar with me.

   At first, we stayed at a hotel in Palm Cove, one of the beach resorts near Cairns, for 2days. It took about 40 minutes by taxi from the Cairns International Airport. Unfortunately, the sea was rough because of a hurricane so we couldn’t swim in the sea. Instead of that, we could enjoy swimming in the beautiful pool of the hotel. Especially for Sou, it seemed to be better because he was still afraid of the waves of the sea at that time.

   At the night of New Year’s Eve, we could see many fireworks with the countdown by the local people and tourists at the beach. It was really different from Japanese one.

   Next 2 days we moved to the Green Island which is located in the Great Barrier Reef. It took only about 50 minutes by ferry from Cairns. There is only one hotel in the island so we stayed at there. Sou was scared of swimming in the sea in the beginning and he just played in the sand, but, as he could saw many fish in the sea he gradually began to swim and seemed to have fun a lot. My husband, my elder son and I enjoyed snorkeling. We could see coral reefs, many kinds of tropical fishes, green sea turtles, manta rays and even small sharks! Sharks were frightening but they didn’t try to attack humans.

   Besides that, we rode a glass bottom boat, went night hiking around the island and I was amazed by the starry sky. In a morning, my husband and I went to the sea and swam. There was no one except for us. I felt dignity and somewhat holy there.

   The following 2 days we went back to Cairns and walked around the city. There is a big complemental outdoor swimming pool and free barbeque sites. Many people had a good time there. We also went to Kuranda, a village surrounded by tropical rain forests. We rode a gondola, called Skyrail on the way and took a railway, which has a history from 1900s on the way back. It was my first time to see the trees and plants of the rain forest. We went shopping and a zoo. My elder son could cuddle a koala and my younger one petted the back. We took some picture with it. The Koala seemed to be angry because he/she woke up even he wanted to keep sleeping. I felt sorry about that but it was a definitely wonderful experience for my kids.   

   I’m really glad we could have a special time and go through the days without any problems in Australia.
Haruka

The Recent Weather in Matsumoto

My garden's strawberry plants

The recent weather in Matsumoto is very changeable. Sometimes it was freezing and snowy, and sometimes it was really warm. Even if it snowed, the snow would start to melt soon after. Actually, it snowed in the night on Wednesday 23^rd but the next day became sunny and mild.

And also there is a big difference in temperature between the day and night. This might be bad for our health, so I must be cautious of my family’s shape and me.

My neighbor cherry blossoms 

Sometimes there’s a breeze and there are gale-force winds too. There is a proverb, “March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.” I remember this proverb during this season and I feel that spring is just around the corner these days.

I like this season because I can sense the beginning of spring and I’m excited somehow. On the other hand, I dislike it because I suffer from hay fever. A running nose and itchy eyes are terrible for me. I wish I wouldn’t have these symptoms!

Anyway, I would like to enjoy this weather to go somewhere with my family.

Haruka

"Colourful monster"

This monster is big and cute.

His arms and legs are covered with long red curly fur.

He has short black claws on his fingers and toes, and blue hands and feet.

He has spots on his stomach, a small snout, two small round eyes and two long pink antennae.

 I made this! Haruka (14)

Graded readers to great storytellers!

Well done Haruka & Ayaka for creating your own inter-stellar movie!

My summer holiday movie - Haruka

New podcast episode

Find the podcast player under the new 'EASY LISTENING' tab at the top of the page. (This is a new 'static' page, where you can find our podcast and many other audio resources - podcast recommendations etc.)

Check out the other pages too - how do you like the revamped look?

This podcast episode features a chat with ten year old Haruka about the last movie she saw - "Night at the Museum 2". She'd already read both books and is quite a fan!Do you agree with her choice of role model? How many people did Ivan the Terrible actually kill? Why is Al Capone "black & white"?

You' ll just have to listen to find out - and why not subscribe, while you are there? Never miss another episode  :)

Festivals in other cultures - Halloween

Image via Wikipedia

Haruka & I had been talking about 'Coming of Age' Day (Seijin No Hi) in Japan - it's a long way off for her! She used to live in Florida, and has first hand experience trick or treating. This is what she wrote for homework.

Every Year - Hallowe'en

In some countries there is Halloween. We go around neighbours in the afternoon and get candy.

It's on October 31st, every kid dresses up as something. Last year I was a witch, and before that I was a fairy. I don't like plastic Halloween bags to put candies in because they will break. My plastic bag broke because of too much candy.

Finally, if it's started, every house is ready to go get candies and give them. It is a lot of fun. I hope you could know how fun it is.

By Haruka (10)

Night at the Museum - Battle of the Smithsonian

Image via Wikipedia

Did you enjoy reading the second "Night at the Museum" book, Haruka?
Yes, it was very interesting.

You also read the first story - which is better?
I like both of them, so I can't decide.

There are some new characters in this adventure. Who is your favourite?
I liked Amelia (Earhardt) because she's cool. She flew over the ocean and wasn't afraid of anything.

Who wouldn't you like to meet?
I wouldn't like to meet Ivan the Terrible or Al Capone, because they were both very scary and killed a lot of people.

Has Larry changed?
No, he is still funny and friends with the exhibits. He was the boss of a big company, but now he started to be the night guard again because he liked the job.

Posted by: Haruka (10)

If you haven't done your homework...

Cheat like the blazes - the more blatant the better!

I do actually encourage my students to help each other out, and to 'look around' if they don't know how to spell something (too often the case, for my liking). NOT COPYING - that is a rule, but peeking and hinting is fine.

As half my class was absent last week, we needed the catch up; last week's attendees challenged to remember what we did in class and what the questions meant (all a review of the previous book we just finished) - as well as helping use the picture dictionary for more personal answers (We decided we like capabarry & squirrels and that we can't scuba dive or ski jump!

Nice lateral thinking girls!

We recycled paper!

Haruka welcomed Anna to class - Anna is a volcanic refugee! This is what we did in class today :)

First we made a mess in the kitchen - the blender started smoking too!

After we cleaned up & put our socks back on (serious splashing & dripping to avoid) we made this movie together. It's so easy.

As you can see, we made friends really quickly; Anna's flight changed to Sunday. so only a week and a bit getting back home. Thanks for helping us out today xxx

Playing outside

Posted by Haruka

Night at the Museum

Night at the Museum is really interesting!

I really want to watch the movie again. I liked the part when the little monkey steals the key and Nicky was riding on T-Rex. I would want to ride on T-Rex if I could. I read this book in one night because it was really fun

I love that story. I would like to read the next story - I can't wait!

posted for Haruka (10)

We are all super-pleased to be able to celebrate Haruka's champion results from her YLE Movers exam, which she took towards the end of last year.

Ha-chan got the maximum number of shields possible - 5 each for reading/writing, listening, and speaking - and I am sure will be very successful this year when she tries Flyers. She works very hard with Jim every Friday evening, and deserves a big round of applause for her great result.

Was I ever worried about her result? No, not at all. I said she'd do the biz! Here she is after being presented with her certificate by Yuki, Luna's ever-popular manager (and the one responsible for all the hard work getting the exams to take place on time!)

Well done Haruka

Matilda

Q37. Compare the two teachers, Miss Honey and Miss Trunchpole.

Miss Honey likes children, so she is always really nice and kind to kids.
She is pretty and she is young. She likes Matilda and really thanks Matilda for saving her life from Miss Trunchpole. (Miss Trunchpole took all Miss Honey's money). Miss Honey doesn't throw people or scream either, and she doesn' shout.

Miss Trunchpole throws people by the ears and hair, and because she does that, she is not nice. She always shouts to kids, and screams too. She doesn`t like children and she is disgustingly ugly. Miss Trunchpole is mean and she hates Matilda, and she takes all the money from Miss Honey.

I like Miss Honey because she's nice. I like me school teacher, but she sometimes screams because she's mad of people who don't do homework, like a boy in my class. She likes to draw flowers - she's really good at it; she let's us draw too, looking at a real flower.

This is my plan about Miss Honey and Miss Trunchpole. "Nothing" means Miss Honey is not mean, and Miss Trunchpole is not nice.

Posted by Haruka (10)

Time to say "Goodbye"

Last night was Haruka's last class at Luna. Very sad for us, because she was with us from the very beginning of the school and we have been privileged to see her grow up from cheeky toddler to beautiful young woman. Of course we wish her all the very best of luck for her future studies, especially right now as she is concentrating on those horrid entrance exams...

So now all three of the darlings have flown the coop - Yumeka, Sayaka and Haruka. Feel like their dad in many ways, with lots of fab memories of the fun we have had and the smiles they gave us. Looking forward to seeing them come back all grown up (as Sayaka has done this week from her Canadian homestay) etc.

Exit stage left. Tears, hankies, applause.

Sayonara Sayaka

I can`t honestly say I enjoy seeing students leave, but this is a special occasion and I am absolutely certain we`ll be seeing this young lady again in the not too distant future.

I have known Sayaka since she was knee-high to a grass-hopper...which is a long time! She had her last class today at Luna with her lifelong buddies Yumeka & Haruka and we had a party to celebrate. And celebrate we should - because Saya has earned a chance to spend a year in Canada on a homestay.

We also had the chance to present Sayaka with her K.E.T. certificate - a fitting trophy before she leaves on Friday. Can this young lady I have known & taught since she was two and a half actually be leaving on Friday?! Makes me stop & ask myslef how much longer I should be doing this...think I should at least stick around until Sayaka comes back!