Shopping tips in Matsumoto - a guide for travellers

Posted for Kazuko

Shopping for Trouble - a shopper writes

When the going gets tough, I go shopping... 

I like shopping! Because I like looking many things for clothes, grocery, shose, etc.. So i like looking something but also buying something. When I buy new things, it makes me happy and excited. My favorite place is Karuizawa outlet and Isetan, which is famous department in Shinjuku.

Regarding Karuizawa, there are many shops. I can buy anything with cheap price. I also like to touch the high brand clothes. Of course I'm not able to buy them but it is exciting. And for the Isetan, I can look and buy latest stuff there. Sometimes, it is hard for me to get some products in Matsumoto, but if I would go this department store, I can get them.

For me, it is exhausting sometimes but I like looking goods and imagine how to use them in my life style. Furthermore, if I can buy a goods after researching, looking, it is very happy!

Buy one, get one free - boardgames flipping the classroom

For us adults, having to go grocery shopping can be a bit of a tiresome chore. If you are forgetful like me, you will have to make a list, check it twice and then remember to take it with you when you go to the shops! At Luna we have turned grocery shopping into a fun activity which the students can enjoy with the help of the "Shopping List" game. If only I could do my grocery shopping in the classroom!

Shopping carts and shopping lists

The students get their own shopping list, made up of 8 different items, and their own shopping trolley, which they must fill up with the items on their shopping list. There are cards, which are placed face down, for each of the food items found on the shopping lists and it is the students' job to find and name all the food items on their shopping list. It's a great way of introducing new food items that the students unfamiliar with, as well as allowing them to recycle language they have encountered in their textbooks.

Is it on the shopping list?

We all know that food vocabulary is an integral part of learning any language, especially if you don't want to unwittingly order a plateful of tripe or a bowl full of fish eyes at a restaurant! The great thing about the "shopping list" game is that as well as building the students' vocabulary of food items, alongside incorporating the target language you have been teaching in the classroom. You can elicit what the students' favourite foods are, what they could make from the items on their shopping lists or even get the students to make shopping lists of their own! Another way to implement this game in the classroom is to set up a role play activity where the students take on the roles of a cashier and a customer. So why not give the game a go in your classroom with your very own twist!

No it isn't!

Only if the students would get this excited when their parents take them grocery shopping!

Damian Gowland

My shopping experience in India

One of our students went to India a short time ago(see postcard below) and here she recounts her experiences. Thank you Sari!!

My shopping experience in India

I took a trip to India three weeks ago. Since it was a packaged tour, the tour guide took the members of the tour many places, which included several souvenir shops.

At one shop, I found a beautiful Indian cotton fabric. It was 15 dollars at first, but I negotiated with the shop assistant for a discount. After a 10 minute-talk, they finally offered me 10 dollars and I accepted.

Some of the other group members were also interested in it. However, they thought it was a rip-off and that they’d have another chance to buy something like it later on.

A few days later, we dropped by another souvenir shop. They were selling an Indian fabric which was similar to the one I bought before. They asked the shop assistant how much it was and he answered ‘It’s 80 dollars’! We all were amazed. It was the real rip-off. They ended up going home empty-handed!

Posted for Sari (Wednesday)

Teenagers, how do you have fun?

Dear Brad,

I'm fine thank you. And you? I have been in Japan since third grade.

My sister makes me laugh because she is crazy. My friends make me laugh all the time because they are funny. Some movies make me laugh if they are fun.

I enjoy reading books because I could do it alone. I enjoy playing outside with my friends because we can do lots of sports and games.

I read English books for thirty minutes every night. I've read more than twenty of them since I was born. I play with my friends twice a week. I've done this since kindergarten.

I think having fun is really important because I can enjoy myself, share a good time with my friends. I also like going to school. I can meet a lot of friends and learn lots of things there. I also enjoy shopping - I like to buy groceries, clothes and especially pens.

From Ha-chan (I'm not a teen yet!)

writing task from unit 7, English in Mind 2 (CUP)

Information Technology

Q3. How do you feel about computers and information technology?

1. For me, the worst thing about computers is to have to continue learning new things one by one.

2. I like to use  a computer when I enlarge photography and make prints.

3. The worst thing about mobile phone is to receive undesirable e-mails, for example direct mails.

4. I think that buying things on the Internet is a good idea because I can buy nice things which I cannot find in shops at Matsumoto. But the main way of paying money is credit cards is not preferable for me, because I don't like to use credit cards.

5. I think that leaning how to use information technology is important because the one is, we -  parents have to teach our children how to use computers well and not to use for bad things.

Junji