Podcast S1 E3 - amazing flatmates

Episode three of our shiny new podcast features the work of Jim's Thursday afternoon business English class, describing how they'd imagine some very famous people, living together, would go.Flatmates they line up are:

• Paul McCartney & Eric Clapton
• Japanese Prime Minister Hatoyama & the opposition leader Mr. Ozawa
• Tiger Woods & Barrack Obama
• Bill Gates & Steve Jobs

Now obviously these are hypothetical (imaginary) situations, but the idea was to suggest how their potential flat-sharing relationships might deteriorate & finally bottom out.

In the podcast you can here Masao, Shuji, Susumu & Keiko delivering their monologues, as well as some reaction from us all. Which is your favourite? We'd love to know! Comments welcome - please subscribe :)

The Day of the Jackal

Read the introduction. Have you seen the film, The Day of the Jackal? What do you know about the French leader, Charles de Gaulle? Have you read any other books by Frederick Forsyth?

When I was a high school student, I saw the film. It was the day before my examination date. It was too long for me to remember the contents, but I only remember Jackal made a rifle by his crutch and he tried to kill a person, but he couldn’t. I didn’t know about the French leader, Charles de Gaulle and Frederick Forsyth. I checked his works by website, but I couldn’t find any title I’ve known.

Anyway, the story was very interesting for me. When I was a high school student, I went to Tokyo to get my entrance exam and the day before the exam, I watched the movie in my friend's house. Because his parents strongly recomended me to watch the movie. I didn't remember the details of the story, but I remember it was so exciting. The resutl of the exam? I don't know  whether the result of the exam depends on the movie,,,,,,,, I failed.

posted for  Masao K.

Love Actually

My favorite scene was that Sam, Daniel’s son was kissed by Joanna at the airport. It was one of heartwarming scene. I like the scene that at the end of the Christmas concert, the curtain opened to show a painted Christmas scene, the Prime Minister and Natalie were found by all of the people at the school at the end of Chapter 8. It was very funny.

39 Which of these couples do you think have the best chance of staying together happily? Give reasons for your opinion.

I think Jamie and Aurelia have the best chance of staying together happily. Because I think Jamie is a good character and maybe Aurelia is, too. The first part of this book, Jamie was shocked by his fiancée and his brother. He didn't recognize that her fiancée and his brother were in love before Jamie and Katya's wedding. I think he is too good nature. After that, Jamie left for his farmhouse in France and met Aurelia. When Jamie's paper was flown by winds and they dived into a lake to get them, though Jamie said that she didn't need to get his papers. I think the event shows that Aurelia is good character. After diving Aurelia, Jamie did, too. He is also good character, I guess.

At first, they didn't understand each language because Jamie couldn't speak Portuguese and Aurelia couldn't speak English. But the last part of this book, Jamie learned Portuguese and Aurelia learned English. They have strong will to understand another word. So I believe it is not difficult to understand each other by their language difference.

I like Jamie's action that he went to Aurelia's house to meet her parents and made a marriage proposal. That scene was very funny.

Love Actually

My favorite scene was that Sam Daniel’s son was kissed by Joanna at the airport. It was one of heartwarming scene. I also like the scene that at the end of the Christmas concert, the curtain opened to show a painted Christmas scene, the Prime Minister and Natalie were found by all of the people at the school at the end of Chapter 8. It was very funny.

39 Which of these couples do you think have the best chance of staying together happily? Give reasons for your opinion.

I think Jamie and Aurelia have the best chance of staying together happily. Because I think Jamie is a good character and maybe Aurelia is, too. The first part of this book, Jamie was shocked by his fiancée and his brother. He didn't recognize that her fiancée and his brother were in love before Jamie and Katya's wedding. I think he is too good nature. After that, Jamie left for his farmhouse in France and met Aurelia. When Jamie's paper was flown by winds and they dived into a lake to get them, though Jamie said that she didn't need to get his papers. I think the event shows that Aurelia is good character. After diving Aurelia, Jamie did, too. He is also good character, I guess. At first, they didn't understand each language because Jamie couldn't speak Portuguese and Aurelia couldn't speak English. But the last part of this book, Jamie learned Portuguese and Aurelia learned English. They have strong will to understand each other. So I believe it is not difficult to understand each other by their language difference. I like Jamie's action that he went to Aurelia's house to meet her parents and made a marriage proposal. I like Aurelia's parents and her neighborbood. That scene was very funny.

Masao Kuroda

The Teacher Man

Q41 Write about your favorite teacher at school or college. Why will you always remember him/her?

I remember an elementary school teacher named Ohkishima. She was my teacher when I was in five to six-grade at elementary school. She was very frank and like a man. She was around forty years old then. She was a good teacher for me. She had a lot of good experiences about how to teach students. I remember she often asked us difficult questions and she separated the students into two groups by their opinion. It was debate style. We discussed some topics enthusiastically so that I felt time flied sometimes. Thanks to her leading, I began to like studying.

I was often scolded by the teacher, because I was really a mischievous child at that time. When I played a trick, she sometimes smiled and overlooked my tricks. My final trick in the elementary school was that I left my fingerprints on some graduation diploma using red ink when I stolen into the principal's office. It was difficult to remove my fingerprints. I didn't understand why I did such a silly trick, but because of my fingerprints the teacher found the criminal, me soon. Usually she laughed away my tricks, but this time, I received her punches.

She give me a lot of influences and I really thank her. A few years ago, when my first baby was born, I went to her house after a long time to show my baby with my wife. We enjoyed talking about my tricks. She still remembered my final trick that I left my fingerprints on graduation diploma. She told us seriously that was really trouble. I really thank her and I believe her influence was so strong that I was able to be a functional adult.

Masao.K

Postcard from Java, Indonesia

Hi Jim,

I bought this postcard at Jakarta airport at return journey. I had stayed at an apartment during business trip. The trip was very successful. I was able to teach our environmental activities to local members. There was no trouble during the trip. I enjoyed eating Japanese meals, especially sashimi, shrimp, tuna was pretty good! I surprised at such a good Japanese food in Indonesia. Unfortunately I didn't have any sightseeing. The journey was pretty tough for me - it took over 20 hours. It was midnight flight! I felt very tired, so I was not able to read book. Sorry.

Best wishes,
Masao