Painting the town red

On Saturday evening, one of Jim's business classes went out for dinner and a few drinks in town. We had a some great nabe and yakiniku; Kazu bizarrely topped up his draft beer with tomato juice and salt...which in a ll my drinking years I don't think I 've seen before!

Tana's first certificate (FCE) class also had a meal, and eventually caught up with Jim's group at karaoke - not a regular event for Jim and actually Tana's first time (can you believe it?). As we were such a large group, we had to wait a while for a room - so we had a few more beers to pass the time & Tomohiro found his friend's wedding party in the same bar!

Surprise crooner of the evening was Yuki, letting rip with style and skill. Most of the rest of us gurning along drunkenly - Rie & Kyoko excepted, so well-behaved. Yosuke & Tomo did their best to keep Yumie awake!

Where did all the time go? Suddenly it was something like half past two in the morning, cold & rainy. Tomo staggered off homewards, others planning to share taxis...Sunday looking like it was going to be a slow day for eveyone concerned! Thanks - I had a great time. I didn't even mind sleeping on the floor (again) when I tried to stay awake for the football.

DOUBLE CROSS

I have read the book. I thought Monika was very cute.

(Q4)You are Chapman. Write a postcard to a friend in London about your stay in Stockholm.

Dear Jim,
I’m writing this card at the Strand Hotel. I had a terrible time in Stockholm. I came here by the business trip. I was working here with Monika, who was an SMI member. We were investigating the murder. She refused to have dinner together on the first night that arrived here. Next day, we looked for evidence around the pond. We dived 3 times under the water. Monika found a small piece of metal, like the top of pen. I thought it was no good. I told her that she threw it away, but she did not obey my instruction. However the glacier was beautiful and the air was clean. I ate some great food. Consequentially, I had enjoyed my visit here.

See you soon,
Jams Chapman

Love in the Lakes

On holiday in the Lake District with her new jet-skiing boyfriend, Nick, Laura meets the local vet, Robert. Robert dislikes both Laura and Nick on sight. However, Laura soon discovers why Robert hates people from the city. Slowly Laura and Robert get to know each other better, and she soon has to make a choice: Nick or Robert?

I also like this love story due to the happy ending as Reiko-san said.

After reading,
Q2. Write a description of the Lake District.

A2. The Lake District, also known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a rural area in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous for its lakes and its mountains (or fells), and its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth and the Lake Poets.

The central and most-visited part of the area is contained in the Lake District National Park - one of fourteen National parks in the United Kingdom(Click here for more information). It lies entirely within Cumbria, and is one of England's few mountainous regions. All the land in England higher than three thousand feet above sea level lies within the National Park. The Lake District also contains Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England.

Click here! You can see another photos.

Postcard from Okinawa

My high school class went to Okinawa ages ago, but I finally got a card from Yuka, bless!

An outstanding waste of money, in my opinion - taking a school to a tropical island that is. Will they pay for the text books I suggested to actually learn English? No...

My comment for the readers book (3)

It has been nice reading with this book. I enjoyed it very much.
Do you think the stories teach us anything about life? If yes, what lessons have you learnt, and from which stories ?
Yes I am. From "Finders keepers". In this story Harry Chen of main characters got the amazing whistle. When he blew it he must have been outside time in some way. It stopped Time itself. During this period only he can move and do anything. Then blew the whistle again , get back to the former world. After he knew everything about this, he would do wrong thing. But unfortunately after he blew it, the whistle was broken by accident. Then he couldn't get back to the real world. Wound up too much , terrible thing will happen. Scared.

I think Both is very carefree city. And the shopkeepr shold be more careful.
I can't understand why he treat such a baluable coins and stamps so coarsen.
But I like the country city. Beautiful landscape, rich and varied nature and so on.

I hope someday to visit Both and enjoy good culture and nature.

Postcard from Auckland, New Zealand

You have ten minutes remaining

The sound of pens and pencils furiously scribbling as the clock counts down. Oh yes, exams again!

Luna's venue in Hokuriku hosted its first KET & PET session on November 23rd. Jim drove through the very early morning freezing rain and sleet to be there help the school get started, and also to conduct the speaking tests with one of our recently trained new oral examiners. Jim had to let her do all the hard work as he had a bad cold and could barely speak - well done Mo!
Meanwhile our Tokyo venue once again ran a smooth session concurrently, for which we need to give a lot of credit to Trevor and Chie, and thank Reiko at Westgate for helping us sort out OEs. We are going to be on a big OE recruiting drive in 2009, which will be an exciting year for us (more news on that soon).

The first weekend of December means First Certificate of English (FCE). The Gold Standard!My favourite exam for several reason, two obvious ones being it is the reason I got interested in Cambridge (UCLES) exams in the first place, and that I believe it is an achievable goal for all of our students at Luna. This is the first time we have run FCE on a Saturday at two venues; with Yukari's help, Eleanor's co-operation, and Tana's generousity with her free-time, candidates sat the test in Matsumoto. Hijiri also spent his first day without mum Yuki, who left home at 4.30am to supervise the Tokyo sitting at Oxford University Press's headquarters, driving down with Jim; a busy day for Luna's family!

OUP looked after us superbly, and we are very grateful to Colin for all his help, and to OUP as usual for their kindness and generosity.

A picture to Remember

I have read the book.I interested to this story.

I selected the after reading No.3: Which character did you like best in "A picture to Remember".

I like Daniel. Daniel is a gym manager at the Recoleta Health Club in Argentina. I thought if Daniel is not exist in story, then this story is not established.But he is not both a main person and a heroine.
Daniel save Cristina(main person in story) from mafia(Roberto and Calros). And her headache went away by Daniel's action as 3 below things in story.

1. Roberto dropped a weight to Cristina and hurt her, when Daniel quickly leave for her and give medical treatment in his managing gym. Also after following her, he aggressively tryed to dig out the criminal.

2. When Cristina and Daniel ran away from mafia(Calros and Roberto) on the Argentine road , he actived to protecting her at ending story. Then Daniel said things at last sean (Carlos and Robert's car hit the police car), he said "Stay here, It could still be dangerous." I felt he calmed down and judged a situation at any time.

3. A lot of people come at his gym. Maybe his gym is comfortable and clean for guest by his good humanity (At anytime, he smile and polite to first coming guest).

I wanted to emulate Daniel's behavior after reading this story.

Regards,

Hironobu Inada

TWO LIVES

I have read the book. I enjoyed this story very much.
After reading No.8. “Write a letter from Megan to Paul, saying that she has decided to marry Huw.”

Dear Paul

Thanks for your kindness. I can’t marry you. I can’t forget Huw. He is in my heart fully. I found his letters in a box of my father’s papers. They were unopened. I never knew that he had written to me. I thought his new life in Canada had made him forget me. It was not true. He had sent his letters for me, and had waited my letter. Huw and I met in Tredonald. We had spoken about the old days. I was happy every time I saw him or heard his voice. I felt that I couldn’t live without Huw. It was difficult for me to escape from thoughts of Huw. I realized I loved Huw. I’m sorry I can’t marry you. I won’t meet you any longer. Don't look for me. Good-bye.

With best wishes
Megan Jenkins

Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

20 Katrina is Brom's wife. She asks him about the legend of Ichabod Crane and the ghost rider. Write Brom's answer.

Brom said as below,

Some people say that there are two ghosts in Sleepy Hollow. One is the white woman near a big tree. Another one is the horse rider without his head near the small river. The Ichabod's hat was found near the river, so I guess he met the horse rider. Maybe, he was very surprised and fell from his horse Gunpowder. He've run away to New York, because he hated country side with ghosts. I think he misunderstood other thing as the ghost. I believe that there are no ghosts in Sleepy Hollow. 

Hajime

My comment for readers books (2)

I enjoyed this book very much. I have taken much time to finish reading it. I'll get short to complete reading the next book. I'd like to write about the followings. Would you like to live and work in a foreign country, like Paul and Jacky ? Why ? Why not ?


Yes, I'd like to. I was wondering if I could live one of western countries for the the future. If possible, it would be the place where is moderate climate. Also I want to work in a foreign country at least once in my life. I think it make me more interesting.

My comment for readers books (1)

I have read the readers book , " The Amsterdam Connection". I enjoyed this story very much. I'd like to write down my opinion for the followings.
Which actors would you choose to play the main characters ?
Would you make any changes to the story ?

I like Charlize Theron as movie star, one of Hollywood celeb. She looks very beautiful and has a strong character. Also acting very well. Her character completely match in this story. That is why I would choose her as one of the main character, Kate Jensen.

Yes, I would make two changes. One is place, the other is sports around this story. I would change the place from Amsterdam to Toronto and the sports from football to Ice Hockey. This change make it interesting and more thrilling.

Enkai season

Oh yes, the cold wintry nights are upon us, and with them the season of parties and red noses!

I was invited to join a lovely gaggle of ladies I have been teaching lately to celebrate (I think?) the end of their course. They were in good spirits by the time I managed to get there - I couldn't get off work any earlier. They had enjoyed the Tapas menu fully, by the looks of it.

It is always nice to see students away from the classroom and to be able to interact fully. Of course we had a ni-ji-kai (very civilised Japanese habit of kicking on for a "second" party) and I managed to catch up on the drinks. So much so, I found the Hagen Daaz I bought on my way home still in my pocket, unopened, the next time I wore my warm coat - three days later. Should I eat it...this is the question!

Professional development - Luna leads

For the last 15 years or so I have made an annual trip down to Tokyo to take part in the Tokyo English Language (TEL) bookfair, which these days is run with English Teachers Japan (ETJ).

The event is sponsored by the major publishers as well, and as such is a good opportunity to see what new materials are available. A lot of authors are there to present their new books, and other experienced educators, teachers, material developers are there to demonstrate new ideas and old, explain the obvious and suggest new ways to skin a cat. I always find something useful to bring back to my school, and am delighted to report that so did Tana. Again. I am very pleased that our staff as in the past make the extra effort to develop their professional skills and are prepared to travel, join in, and take their jobs seriously.

Luna's teachers are always well looked after by the publishers, and we are grateful for their continuing support. Cambridge University Press were delighted to see how much use of their readers is on show here (as they should be - there's a lot of quality work being done by you)! Our friends at Oxford University Press are lending us premises to hold FCE exams next week, and we are looking forward to doing more with McGraw-Hill.

This year I let Tana be the genki one, and she found herself on stage rather a lot. She brings this energy to class, as you can imagine. I went to see a few technical presentations, including one by Mr Stout, whose presentation two years ago prompted me to get this blog going properly. Again, he showed a bunch of very handy ideas that I hope to bring into our school's orbit. Please visit his blog? A couple of other presentations fell in to the "me, me, and more about me" category which really annoy me, me, and me; I want practical stuff not 45 minutes of self-inflating rubbish.

Anyway, if Tana & I look tired today, bear with us. A weekend in Tokyo working takes a little getting over!

But was it Murder

Eliod said at last "In life you could never be sure of anything." Yes, I agree with him. The world is moving. The human society is also moving for somewhere. The human emotion is foamy. Everything is changing and also life is uncertain. We can be sure of one thing - there will be a change. However, someone said "A man is not finished when he is defeated. He is finished when he quits." I also agree to this.

STRONG MEDICINE

(Q1.) What do you think happens to Mark Latto and Sylvia Koning next?

I think that they love each other. Of course, they married soon after incident of Deborah Spencer. They live at Latto's house in Scotland. They continue research of helping patients with Parkinson's Disease. They refer to Deborah Spencer's book about helping patients with Parkinson's Disease. That work is very difficult and they have to spend many time. After a few years, second incident happens. Keiffenheim Laboratories don't like the work of Mark and Sylvia. Mark and Sylvia fight to Keiffenheim Laboratories. The action story is 'STRONG MEDICINE II'.

DOUBLE CROSS

Which character do you like the most? why?

There are many appealing characters in the story. For example, Blom, Bruce, Carsson, and Cabind. (Chapman and Vitjord are not appealing)
Above all, My most favorite character is Monika in the story, because she was twenty-six years old pretty woman with blonde hair, and she loved her work, and sometimes she fight against strong enemies even if several mens. But my most favorite point about Monika is to wear bikini for her work.

I think that her bikini style is very appealing. In summer, I would like to swin with her. It would be exiciting for me. So, I like Monika. Yoichi

Chilly Florida

Last week I visited to Florida on business. I was told to send postcard, but I was too busy to do it. Therefore I am posting a report here, instead.

I have lots of experience to visit there, I've ever been there even in the middle of winter, but this time it was unusual cold as warm Florida. I had free time on Monday morning, so I went to beach. It was fine day, but very windy and cold.(By the way, I forgot about the postcard at that time. It was only chance to buy it)

As for business, we had a lot of good result, though it was very tiring week. We had a long meeting every day.

Unlucky happening had come at end. My colleagues and I left for Japan Saturday early morning, via Chicago. We arrived at Chicago without any trouble. We boarded next flight to Japan on time at noon, but the airplane didn't start. According to a announcement, the aircraft seemed to have some trouble on its engine, and mechanic was trying to fix. Then, they gave it up, and we had to move to another airplane, after waiting for a few hours in the airplane. The alternative airplane would depart at 4:00pm. We boarded again, but they gave up again due to aircraft servicing.( I don't know actual reason because I didn't catch the detail of announcement. Of course that's English...). New flight was the next day. We had to stay in Chicago , after wasting a day in the airport after all. We could have had enough time to go sightseeing in the downtown if we had been able to predict it.

D51

We rode on D51 that was an old steam locomotive of Japan on the last weekend.

This train ran for the 120th anniversary memorial event of Shin-Etsu line of JR. This locomotive is called by the pet name of "Degoichi". We rode on this train from Nagano to Kurohime.

A lot of people saw and took photos this train on railway side.I also took many photos of the train and my family.

After dinner, We saw fireworks of "Ebisu-Kou" festival in Nagano city.

My family had a very exciting day. But, I was very tired. Because I drove a car from my home to Nagano-City, and I ran to take photo and held tired children and walked.

eiji

Australia and New Zealand

Question: Choose a city or part of Australia or New Zealand that you like to visit.

I hope to visit New Zealand.

I like snowboarding. I know there are a lot of very good snowboard place in New Zealand. New Zealand’s season is opposite to Japan. I can enjoy winter sport in summer of Japan.

Add, I want to enjoy nature and watching unusual animals.

On is a volcano on North Island. I interest to power of nature.
I want to learn culture of New Zealand such as Haka. I thought that this travel becomes very exciting.

eiji

Martin Luther King

I read Martin Luther King. I knew his name because he is a famous man but I didn't knew what he did in detail.

He was a person who managed to change racism between Black pepole to White pepole. Additionally He was a person who win the Nobel Peace Prize. He was the second American who win it.

I thought that there are no American racism now but I knew that American racism has leave yet after I read this book.

Recently Mr Barack Obama became the president of America. This is very big change for American racism. I hope that he will change this problem.

COMMERCE

I read the book, I remembered the USA recently are occurred economic anxiety by subprime leading. It might occur next the great depression in the world. It means be connected commerce all over the world. I felt a large scale that are made commerce by people. And I felt the commerce have a lot of history.

D.Project work Read the advertising slogans for Coca-Cola on page 19. Then choose another product and make an advertisement. Think of your own slogan for the product.
I make advertisement of printer product.

'People and People communicates by printing' I think the communication.
'Exceed printing your vision' I think the future.
'Reduce it by print' I think the earth environment

yasu

The USA

I have seen or heard about USA every day, and I feel the USA is really big and exciting country. 

Now America might have many problems about rich and poor, appeal by arms, a discriminatory consciousness... Next year, new president Obama will appear, we hope his appearance would give a good impression to all of world.

I have ever visited California two times by business trip about eight or nine years ago, then I visited Napa Valley and San Francisco in holidays. At that time, I found the difference of grape farms between California and Japan. In San Francisco, I experienced falling down from top of the S-shape steep slope by car, but I have heard nowadays that's action is prohibited.

Junji

Love in the Lakes

This story was interesting and I am very glad to hear the happy ending. I don't like Nick.

He is egocentric. He is a person who can go to the jet skiing only even though he brought his girl friend Laura. If I were, I try to find something enjoy before starting the holiday.

I realized a man cannot be judged by his appearance.Robert might have the hidden part, but he has the thought about others. It has the same sensibility as Laura. They will surely succeed.
Question 6: Make a quiz about this story for other students, e.g. some true/false questions or some correct/incorrect sentences.
1. True or false?

a. Kip has eaten some rat poison.

b. Nick doesn't like jet-skiing.

c. Laura can drive a car.

d. Lake District is placed near London.

e. Barbara is Robert's aunt.

f. Nick and Laura were married.

g. Robert felt happy at last.

Information Technology

Q3. How do you feel about computers and information technology?
1. For me, the best thing about computers is able to keep data.
2. I like to use a computer when netsurfing.
3.The best thing about mobile phones is to be able to call at anytime. The worst thing about mobile phones is always called.
4. I think that buying things on the Internet is a good idea because we are able to buy anywhere anytime.
5. I think that learning how to use information technology is important because IT develops more and more from now.

The Missing Coins

Is there an interesting little shop in your town or city? What can you buy there? Write about it.

There is a small general shop in my city.
There are very nice many commodities in the store.
Especially, the kitchen instrument is very interesting!
However, there is a problem.
A male is difficult to enter into the store alone.
It is because there are many woman visitors.
It difficult!!

Tomoyuki

Lisa is London

8 Lisa is famous and her photo is in a newspaper. Write about her for the same newspaper.

She came to learn English in London. To become a teacher. But, she has mistaken a studio for a school. The photographer does not know is not her in the model.But, the photographer continued taking a photograph. Looked for the model of the advertisement at that time. And her photograph caught eye. She became a model and became famous.

Disaster!

After Reading No2:

About Edith Brown's story:
On 10 April 1912, Edith Brown and her parents, Thomas and Elizabeth, left England on the Titanic, because they wanted to start a new life in the United States.

When the Titanic suddenly hit an iceberg on the night of 14 April, Thomas immediately ran to his family and told them to put on warm clothes. Edith and Elizabeth found seats in the lifeboat, but sadly there weren't enough places for everybody. Poor Thomas died in the water along with many other people, so Edith never saw her father again.

About Tilly Smith's story:
In December 2004, ten-years-old Tilly Smith and her family went on holiday to Thailand. They stayed in a hotel on the coast.

When Tilly was on the beach one day, she saw the sea was moving back very quickly from the land. She had learned all about the signs of a tsunami at school, she immediately warned her family and other tourists about the danger.

Tilly returned to Thailand a year later, and she spoke there to thousands of people about kindness and bravery.
----------------------------------------------

Although my answer is above, the question requires using 'where'. I have no idea for using 'where'...

Another roadtrip

Last weekend was another busy one, as Tana's posting below also mentions.

King's Road English School in Tokyo was the venue for Cambridge ESOL KET & PET examinations on Saturday, and I need to thank Trevor for his professional approach to this important event for us. Hokuriku Gakuin University in Kanazawa also had KET & PET exams on the same day - their first Lower Main Suite session so an exciting, newsworthy event. Gavin & Sakiko were suitably nervous & well-prepared; candidates looked a bit nervous!

I drove over to help the school cope with their first time, but also to be one of the two oral examiners along with Maureen, who trained up earlier this month in Sapporo. Afterwards we were able to relax with a couple of staff, which was nice but frustrating - surrounded by inviting Scotch whisky and unable to partake - I hade to drive to Sendai that night!

OK, so I slept in the car near Niigata...Sunday I met a lot of interesting folks from Sendai itself, Miyagi, Yamagata and Aomori prefectures, plus my performing friends Kaj & Kevin, who you can see on the right here. Kevin is the best presenter I know, and you'll notice he is also a fan of the Reading/Story Tree which we use at Luna. One day we'll get him to come up here...I also met a Canadian lady who shares my surname, which is very unusual - especially in Japan. Maybe we're related?

I hope our KET & PET candidates all enjoyed their exams (?!) and that they are satisfied with their results when they come. Thanks to our OEs & invigilators, and hopefully next year we will have a few new venues around the country for more candiates to take the exams conveniently. Here's hoping - it won't be for lack of trying!

Lisa in London

7. Lisa wanted to learn English at a school, but can she learn English at work too? What do you think?

She wanted to be a teacher. She cannot stay in London for long time. Because she had to return her home for her parents. I feel she was not poor, she can learn English without any works, so she should not work. She should hardly learn English for short term. If she can be a English teacher, I think she will forget any other jobs (and Michael).

Hajime

The Lahti File

After reading
1. Have you read any books or seen any films with a story like The Lahti File?

Yes, I have seen some films. “Mission Impossible.” “007 James Bond.” I like “The Man from UNCLE.”
“The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” is an American TV series that was broadcast on NBC about 40 years ago. Japanese title was “0011 Napoleon Solo.” At that time I was a child. I couldn’t almost watch it, because it started at 11:00 pm on weekday. However I could watch it, because I went to bed late during summer vacation.
The summary of this story is as follows. The main actor was Napoleon Solo. His boss was Alexander Waverly. Solo’s colleague was Illya Kuryakin. They worked for U.N.C.L.E. which is abbreviation of United Network Command for Law and Enforcement. They fought against the international criminal organization, which was called THRUSH. UNCLE headquarters in New York City were interesting. There were most frequently entered by a street entrance in a tailor shop. Another entrance was through a masque club. New York citizen didn't understand it was the spy base. The ID plate is received from the acceptance when entering the inside and he wears it to the chest. As for the plate, the color is different in each section, and the ID number for each member is being written. Solo is the 11th. His ID number became a Japanese title.

The Lady in White

When I saw the picture on the front cover this book, I have felt fear and horrors. And it was true. I think this cover picture is the best match to this story.　Also I guess the title “The Lady in White” base on “White Lady”. You can see about White Lady in following URL. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Lady

After reading Q1: Which chapter do you remember most clearly from The Lady in White? Why?

What remembered me most clearly was Chapter 3, The Lady in White. While John was listening the story of a hitch-hiker in the cassette tape, I could image the transformation of his feeling. I thought it was very frightening when he found it was the same as his story. If I was John, I would be impatience to listen the cassette. (*1)

Koa

Note: (*1)
The second conditional (if + past simple + would) refers to actions that are not real or unlikely to be real in the future. :-)

The Fruitcake Special and other stories

I like such kind of stories which is a fiction and an entertainment.

After reading….Q1. Which of the five stories did you enjoy most? Write an article for the classroom notice board explaining why you like the story.

I like the first one, “The Fruitcake Special”. Can you image a perfume which makes men to fall in live with a woman who put on the perfume? It is a dream of people want. No? And I hope a perfume for men, which works opposite that women fall in live with men. If I have it …

And I imaged the scene after Anna threw everything in the bottle on the dress of the girlfriend. What happened on David? It was very interesting.

Takaaki

Florida is cold!!

I was in Tampa, Florida, USA at this week. Do you think that Florida is warm??
Nooo...... In this week, Florida is very cold. The maximum temperture is 16 degree centigrade and the minimum temperture is 3 degree centigrade.
Do you believe it?
But it is true.

I had gone to the ClearWater Beach. The wind is strongly and cold.
But, a person of here basked in the sun with swimsuit, unbelievable!!
Because American eat very vary much, they don't cold, do they?

I'm sorry that I can't show some photo, because I didn't bring a camera

I attend at the next class.
However, I may have caught cold a little.

Logan's Choice

Logan's Choice is a crime fiction of murder. Jenny Logan wan an inspector in the Edinburgh.

In the middle of the night, she got the phone. That was te news of murder. Alex Maclennan was killed. Then she reasoned who killed Alex Maclennan, his wife?, his brother in law?, manager of restaurant??

I was able to read smoothly unexpectedly. Because I like the crime fiction same as last the Space Fiction, too.

The murder was *********!!He was manager of Maclennan's restaurant. He was a joint manager, but it was a crime by what it was not able to be given an enough pay for.

I did not know whom was murder, Ian Ross or Donald Johnstone. Therefore I tell them, "Mr. Fraser saw someone climbing into Alex's bathroom.". Then we waited to come murderer and catched him. ******** was catched by Logan.

I like this book, because I like the crime fiction. This story was clear and easily read for me.

Update

It certainly has been a busy month or two for both Jim and myself.

Over the last couple of months I have been attending a series of workshops held by Oxford University Press in conjunction with IIEEC in Tokyo. These included lectures and practicums given by the well known Ritsuko Nakata, author of the Let's Go series, and other qualified teacher trainers. Very interesting and lots of new ideas for the classroom which I've been getting stuck into and have already seen the benefit of.

My tots have been busy too, making sculptures to illustrate the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, which they know now by heart! A messy job to be sure, but we took the necessary precautions, no paint was spilt and a lot of fun was had by all.

Classroom rules

Here are a set of classroom rules to put Jim's troubled mind to rest.
The rules are as follows:

1. No kicking, biting, scratching, pulling of hair or other harmful behaviour.
2. No rocking on chairs.
3. No eating.
4. Look at the teacher.
5. Listen to the teacher.
6. Put up your hand if you want to say something, and wait to be asked.
7. Remember classroom language for ex 'What is it?' and 'How do you spell it?' and use it!!
8. Put away anything which is not English. Only English books and stationery in the classroom please.
9. Help eachother, in English, of course!
10. Do your homework before the lesson starts.
11.Come to class on time.

Please note that these rules apply to adult classes too!!
;)

Thanks!

Forthcoming events

Yip! It's that time of year already and the annual Christmas Party is just around the corner. I do hope you will all be joining us. Further details to be announced shortly.

Thursday afternoons

Every Thursday from about 4pm, our building is invaded by very cheerful and chirpy young girls, along with not a few mums and younger brothers & sisters. Jim gives up trying to get any work done!

Kaede is very comfortable around grown ups, and has no problem at all starting conversations. Here she is discovering Tana's precious digital camera! Class itself is usually a rowdy affair, so the class is going to agree on a set of promises that will make Tana's life easier and help the class settle down.

Lady in the white

I'm sorry but I can't put the picture of this book cover, althoghI heard how to put it last week from Jim...

I had been reading this book in dark and silent airplane (in order to let passengers sleep well), so it was good condition to read this "mysterious" story.
It was a story of "urban legend", and the efficient TV producer is going mad by one lady wearing white dress.
I can't tell the end of story, so please read by yourself if you want to know!

By the way, I tell you the strange story about myself.
Before I went to a kindergarten, I had a friend in my HEAD!
Her name is "Kariko-chan" and I usually talked with her, but she was gone without realizing...

There are a lot of things which science can't tell the truth, aren't there?

Yumiko