The Canterville Ghost (and other stories)

At the first I guessed this story was frightening and hoped so, but not freighting at all. The Ghost was so poor and misery guy. He couldn't frightened all Otis's family and was helped to go to heaven by the daughter who lived in the house. The children will enjoy this funny story.

I spent 3 hours to read this book. It was not easy for me to read the book. I try to read the next book faster than this book.

Posted for Shin

Reading club - Old Rock meeting

I met "my lads" last night in the pub for a pint; they have earned a drink because of their very hard work in my class the last six months - well, two years now...

I have to say I am really impressed with this bunch because they are forever challenging each other to 'speak English' - and they really do try hard. Last night was no different, and we had a really good chat (some topics we really can't do when I am 'on the clock') about all sorts of stuff. For example, are Osaka girls hotter than Yamagata beauties? Shikoku - backwater or home of mental matsuri? Should Satoru come back and study with us - or concentrate on his 19 year old playmate? Serious things to ponder as we monitored the quality of the Guinness.

Naomi joined us and the tone civilised; she also works in IT so the boys had a lot to chat about, especially as her daughter and Ya-chan's son study at Luna. Just to cap things off, one of my ex-students from NHK told everyone (quite rightly) what an amazing guy I am! (Actually, I was a bit embarrassed)

In April 'my lads' will recommence their studies; I am sure they will continue to make great progress and read everything that is put in front of them. Classes like this (which started from scratch, I need to add) make my day. Every now and again they make my evening too! Thanks lads!

Where I live - Shiojiri

I live in Shiojiri, which is a city in a basin in the middle of Japan. It has a population of 60,000 people and it’s a small city in Japan.
There are many lettuce farms. The lettuces are always produced in the end of August and the beginning of September. They are very fresh and really delicious, but aren't cheap.
The whether of here is comfortable, because there aren't many rainy days. Many football teams that the students belong enjoy a match under the sunshine every weekend.
Shiojiri is famous for lacquered ware in Japan. The lacquer is very bright and glossy. The medals for Nagano winter Olympic games ware lacquered in this city.
I think the best thing about Shiojiri is the beautiful scenery of mountain range.
I enjoy the color that the mountain changes beautifully when the season changes.
I like these mountains and this city very much.

Australia and New Zealand

There is Mt. Hutt Ski Area in the middle of south island in New Zealand. This Ski Aria is so famous and the best in the Oceania.It is so big and have many course. We can enjoy skiing for long season, from June until October.Many skiers all over the world go to New Zealand in this season.

Circle Games

Question: Which story did you like best, and why?

I like "The Trishaw Man" best, because Thomas and his wife loved their son.
They work very hard for their son everyday, but not for themselves, because they are very kind person and the best parents.
Gregory who is Thomas's son love his parents too, and he is going to look after his parents when his parents are old, because he is realy kind child.

The family are so happy with tender heart.
Therefore, I like the family's story very much. I want to make my family be so.

Posted for Shin

Within High Fences

The best character is George ,because he is very kind person. He wanted to help people and loved Nancy deeply. I think he is really nice person. I want to be like him if I can. I don't like Nancy and Tom, because they didn't try to understand each other. If they had much communication about themselves, they maybe understood each other.

George and Nancy will have many problems in their life ,but be happy with pure love.
Tom is very poor person.He believe money make everything good.We can't buy mind.

Posted for Shin

Logan's Choice

I enjoyed the Logan's choice. This story is more interesting than another stories for me.

Logan is a very smart and cool woman. Grant is very good partner for her. They help and support each other well and investigate the murder case skillfully. Logan's let the murder be caught in a trap and the murder can't get away at all by her choice.

I think Logan's Choice is a good title. I make up another title "Money terminate heart". Alex lost his life and wife' love instead of money. Money lose Ross's mind. Ross lose his mind like Alex too. I understand they want more than money they have , because I hope too if it is possible.

I am very happy when I get on very well with my family or enjoy my taste. I don't need much money. I think that much money cannot make us happy, but warm heart can do it.

Posted for Shin

My favourite photo - Shin

One of my favorite photos is of a beautiful mountain.

I took the photo in the autumn of 2005 when we were climbing the mountain.

It is Yakedake mountain in Kamikochi.
I was deeply impressed with the great beautiful view. I thought that nature was really great.

There were some long iron ladders in the mountain trail. I was afraid of them but I was excited and happy.
We were so tired because we walked for about 7 hours.
I had an onsen-bath near Kamikochi and I relaxed.

I keep this photo in my PC.This photo make me to want to climb the mountain again.

Posted for Shin

Jojo's story

Jojo was a unhappy boy who was ten years old. One day everyone were killed without only him in his village. He lost his family that loved him deeply by the miserable accident.

He couldn't understand everything and was full of sadness in his small
heart. A journalist and UN soldiers helped him and took him to children house. He was happy with many friends and kindly staff in there.

I hoped that he live peaceful life without war weapon but he had the gun. He
wanted to revenge himself on his family's death.

Posted for Shin

Different Worlds

I think Sam is very pure and good girl and Jim is good too.I like them.

I hope they are happy, but Sam's Mum said Jim will leave her.I don't understand why she said so at all. If she think really so,she shouldn't say so to Sam.

She should try to trust her daughter and Jim.

I don't have deaf friends now. I am afraid how to do with them.

I should be friendly and do just the way I am if I meet deaf friends.

Posted for Shin

Meet the readers

With a couple of weeks to spare, my lads have polished of their reading books and are ready for more! In a 20 week span, they have read 6 graded readers - the first time any of them have ever picked up an English book. They have blogged their written assignments (see previous postings) and seen the benefits of their labours - better vocabulary retention, interesting stories or biographic information, reviewing grammar points; faster reading (itself a very valuable skill), skimming & scanning; becoming independent learners & tossing away the electronic dictionaries; and the writing component as well.

This my boys have managed on top of busy jobs - we study in company - and on top of their regular homework tasks...which this week is to find a podcast they might want to listen to (starting at BBC) and to report back. I'm hoping my champions will sign up for more punishment (classes oops) from April and that we can continue to do great stuff together!