From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

English Teacher

英語の先生

Please see below the Japanese text for the English text.　このもの語足りは私の英語のクラスについてです。たぶん、全部の友達はまだ分かることはアメリカから日本来た前に緊急の看護婦で働きました。それは殆ど９年間前に。日本に来たときに、子供二人は小学生ので、私はいろいろことを忙しかったです。 日本語をできないので、ここに看護婦のようをできません。そして、子供たちは大きくなったから、新しいキャリアを探しました。自分の手腕とか興味とかを考察をしたと、あら！もちろん、英語の先生なりたいです。それは３年間前にので、熱心でなりました。プライベットなレッスンはよいだので、改良をしに東京のテンペル大学区に出席もしました。そして、一年間で専門学校で英語を教えています。３月から、日曜日の午後に、友達たちのグルプのレッスンをします。それはZoomUPです。みなはいろいろレベルをしてので、クラスは楽しくて、面白いと思います。それについて前のポストがここである。いくつの生徒はもっとチャレンジなクラスを欲しいから（例えば、TOEICをとる人）、ZoomUPProを作りました。

そして、ZoomUPProのクラスは略毎週火曜日の夜である、７時半から９時まで起こります。  生徒の予定の場合は参加して、おのおののレッスンは独立のスタイルです。Mixiを作るので、コミュネティーを参加する後に、レッスンを参加したかったら、MixiのZoomUPProのコミュネティーで、イベントをサインアップすること方法。標的の生徒は中級レベル以上理想なであります。自分で資料を作るから、参加するつもりの生徒場合は作れます。考えることは、私の近所で働いているの人は仕事の後に、参加します。（近所は六本木一丁目だので、オクラホテルとか、アルクヒルズなど）

昨日は初めのクラスでした。一人だけ生徒は来たが、彼女は勇敢なので、成功したと思います。たくさん準備をしました。私の考えはクラスの方を決めて、レッスンを作ったら、後に続きやすいなります。 オリジナルのZoomUPのような、最初にWarmUPBookを読みました。この本の目的は耳を英語を慣れています。その本は子供の絵本だけど、面白いくて、たくさんいい言葉はあります。本のテームは子犬は風が引きます。次ぐに一緒に作ったクロスワードパズルを解答しました。そのパズルの言葉はWarmUPBookからや次の書いた物語からです。パズルは物語読むこと前には故意です。難しい言葉ので、それは勉強することです。次に、書いた物語を読んで、言葉とか文法とか発音とか意味も勉強しました。その物語はインフルエンザについて。９０分のクラスで英語を話しました。クラスは終わりに、生徒は全部の資料を持って帰りました。（絵本以外）そして、生徒は強化できます。将来のクラスのためいろいろ方法を使うつもりです。

ZoomUPProを参加したかったら、Mixiのコミュネティーを見てください。私に連絡をしてください。 将来の予定クラスは１２月１日や１２月１５日であります。９０分のクラスの値段は２０００円だけど、毎の４回目の参加したクラスはおきに半額をします。このポストは広告のようだけど、英語を勉強したい人は私の近所で働いたら、たぶんZoomUPProを見つけたら、喜んでいます。　日本語の間違いをごめなさいね。

This post is about my group English classes.  Probably most of my friends know that I spent many years working as an Emergency and Intensive Care nurse.  But when I came to Japan, I found that I couldn't work as a nurse because I couldn't speak Japanese.  The kids were young then, so I was very busy anyway, volunteering at school and whatnot.  But as they got older, I started casting about for another career.  I considered my skills and my interests, and realized that I wanted to teach English.  So over three years ago, I started teaching English in private lessons.  I found that I really liked it, and (bragging here) I'm good at it.  So I got a part time job teaching English in a vocational school and a hotel.  I also started a casual group class for my friends called Zoom UP, where Japanese people of all ages and levels can gather for a fun English conversation class .   Here's a prior post about Zoom UP.  Some of my friends told me that they like Zoom UP, but they'd like a more challenging class, for example, people who are studying for the TOEIC exam for work, so I decided to create Zoom UP Pro.

Zoom UP Pro will be held on Tuesday evenings, from 7:30 to 9 pm.  This class is for Intermediate level and above English learners.  Because the classes are independent of each other, in other words, free standing, the student can attend the class depending on his or her schedule.  I've made a community on Mixi, which is like a Japanese Facebook, and once the student joins the community, she can sign up for any class she plans to attend by joining the "event".  My thought is that people who work in my neighborhood may want to join after work.  That would be Roppongi-itchome, Okura Hotel, Ark Hills area.

Last night, I held the first ever class of Zoom UP Pro.  I only had one brave student, but I consider it a success.  Like with the original Zoom UP, I started with a Warm UP Book.  The purpose of the Warm UP Book is to get used to listening to English, to warm up the ears.  I use children's books for this, but the words are not overly simple, and the concepts are advanced enough to make it interesting.  This also enhances the student's self confidence.  This particular book was about a puppy who catches a cold.  Next, we worked together to try to solve a crossword puzzle that I had made up.  I took the words from the Warm UP Book and also from the Main Story, a one-pager which I wrote.  I intentionally presented the words in the crossword puzzle before the Main Story to give my student a chance to understand them better when we encountered them in the Main Story.  The story's theme was influenza.  When we read this story, we not only worked on vocabulary, but also sentence structure, idioms, pronunciation, and of course, meaning.  During the entire 90 minute class, we spoke mostly English.  When the class is finished, the student gets to take the material home so that she can reinforce what she learned in class.

If you think you might like to join the class, please take a look at the Mixi Zoom UP Pro Community, and contact me.  The next scheduled classes will be December 1st and December 15th.  The cost of the 90 minute class is 2000 yen, and every fourth lesson attended is half price.  Yes, this post is an advertisement to try to get more students for my class.  Group dynamics will make it even more fun if more people join.  If people who work convenient to my neighborhood are looking for a way to improve their English, I think they'll be happy to find out about Zoom UP Pro.

Switching topics now.  Just for fun, see the photo below.  Nissen International Market in Azabu Juban has some beautiful real Christmas trees for sale, but we won't be buying one.  FYI 29,715 yen is $338.31 USD.  Nissen is a really great store, it has lots of things that I can't find in the Japanese grocery store, such as turkeys.  This week, I bought our 14 pound Thanksgiving turkey (Norbest brand) for 4418 yen, which is $50.13.  Expensive, but there's no other choice, and we'll make the best of it.  I'll be glad when the exchange rate gets back to normal.

Zoom UP

ズームアップ

  

今度日本語と英語は一緒に書きました。This time, I'm writing the Japanese along with the English.

You could say that this story began six or seven years ago when I first started in-line skating every Sunday with the Tokyo City Run.  At that time, even though I was taking Japanese lessons and studying diligently, my Japanese language skill was practically non-existent.  My skating instuctor, Masuda-san, introduced me to the skaters, and they let me join, and weren't unfriendly, but as Japanese people are, by nature, shy, I only gradually made a few friends, those brave few who could speak a little English, and didn't mind dealing with me.  Papa-san, Yoliko-san, and Kofuji-san, were among my earliest friends, besides Rudy from the Netherlands who was also trying to learn Japanese.  They were patient and let me practice speaking Japanese, and slowly... excruciatingly slowly... I improved a little, made a few more friends, and could speak about mundane matters such as "Yesterday, I went by train to the childrens' school." or "No, I've never been to Osaka."

この物語は６日７年間前に始まりました。その時に、毎週日曜日にインラインスケートで東京シテイランに参加して始まりました。たとえよく勉強していたが、その時に私の日本語は無理です。ますださんというスケートの先生はCRのグルプに招待をした後に、だんだんいくつの友達に会いました。その最小の友達たちは英語が持ったので,　日本語を練習して、対し慣用である人はパパさん、よりこさん、こふじさんと日本語を勉強しているのネーデルランド人というルティもいつも話しました。だんだん、すごくゆっくりで、ちょっとよくよりなったので、もっと友達たちに会いました。簡単の文を話せた、例えば、”昨日、電車で子供たちの学校に行きました。”及び　”大阪に行ったことがありません。”

A lot has changed since then, but I'm still studying Japanese and enjoying the Tokyo City Run as well as many other events with my skater friends, including ski trips, parties and other adventures.  Over these many years, the CR has grown very popular, and I've been fortunate to meet and make friends with many skaters who join, as well as improve my Japanese enough to speak with people like Iwa-san, who has no interest in learning English.  More and more, I can understand their Japanese, and usually, skater friends are willing to let me speak to them in Japanese.  Sometimes, when someone first joins, they will be speaking Japanese to everyone else, and then turn to me and speak English.  Though this feels a little insulting to me, I try to deal with it maturely, and answer them in Japanese if I know the words.  If they persist in speaking English to me, I find someone else to talk to.     Don't get me wrong, I am more then willing to help friends practice their English, but it is an effort, and should be considered an exchange sort of thing, a privilege among friends.

あそこから、たくさんは変えたけれど、まだ日本語を勉強しているので、東京のCRも参加しています。もう、スケートの友達といろいろイベントも参加している、例えば、スキー旅行とか、パーティなど。CRはとても人気があるなったので、たくさん新しいスケータの友達に会いました。および、いわさんのようなという英語を興味がない友達も話せてなりました。もっと日本語を分かれるので、友達は私の日本語を努力を使って、分かれます。時々、新しいスケータは初めて、CRに参加して、みなに日本語で話してが、私に回して、英語で話します。それはちょっと無礼なが、私は分別深くみっているけど、日本語の言葉が分からなかったら、日本語で返事をします。英語で固執したら、他の友達に話せます。実は、友達の英語の練習を手伝いたいけど、それは努力だので、友達と友達の交換です。

So, that brings me to Zoom UP.  Since the Skaters have kindly practiced Japanese with me for several years, and many individuals within the group want to improve their English, I'm a willing and capable Language Exchange Partner.  After a nearly two decade history of Emergency and Critical Care Nursing Experience in the states, during my time in Japan, I've gone back to college and gained a certain expertise in the realm of teaching English.  Actually, nursing and teaching are closely related, sister professions, you might say.  I've been teaching private English lessons for several years, and I teach group English lessons in a vocational school as well as a hotel.  But a few months ago, I decided to start Zoom UP, to give something back to my skater friends who have been allowing me to practice Japanese with them all this time.

それから、ズームアップについて話したいです。CRのグルプの会員は親切で私に日本語を勉強しました。もちろん、色々人は英語を上手をなりたいので、私はよく言語の交換のパートナーはやります。殆ど２０年間で、救急の看護婦で働いたので、日本に来たから、大学に戻した、英語の先生になりました。実は、看護婦の職業と先生の職業は同じです。４年間で、プライベトのレッスンを教えているので、専門学校も、ホテルでも教えます。そして、今年にズームアップを始まりました。それは私のスケータの友達に何か返します。

About twice a month, we do Zoom UP on Sunday afternoons after skating is finished.  Tokyo City Run starts at Ueno at 9:30 and reaches Goal at Gaienne at noon.  Since that street is closed on Sundays, we all congregate there afterwards, usually eating bento lunch, visiting and practicing slalom skating, and sometimes playing frisbee on skates or other crazy things.  On days that Zoom UP is scheduled, I leave Gaienne before 2pm and skate home, because class starts at 2:30 and goes until 4pm.  I've held Zoom UP six times so far, and I've had anywhere from 4 to 14 participants.  Skaters and other friends of all ages and all levels of English ability are welcome.

大体月間で、日曜日の午後にスケットした後に、ZoomUPは二回起こります。 CRは上野から９時半に始まってので、１２時ころに外苑のゴールに着きます。日曜日に、道は閉まったので、あそこにランチを食べて、遊びます。そして、ズームアップの日に、私は２時前に、家に帰ります。レッスンは２時半から、４時までです。今まで、６回目ZoomUPを起こったので、４人から１４人までの参加した人が来ました。スケータと他の友達も来てので、色々年齢と英語の能力も人は大丈夫です。

When I make a plan to do Zoom UP on a certain day, I always communicate it through my Zoom UP community on Mixi.  If a student plans to attend the lesson, he or she will sign up on the community, so that I can plan better, though last minute particants are welcome as long as there is space.  When I decide the themes, I communicate that on the community as well.  There are always three themes.  The next lesson, which will be held this coming Sunday, June 28th, will use the themes of Baseball, Describing Japanese food, and Making a plan to go somewhere with a friend.  We use various methods during the lesson, such as reading children's books, games, songs, and Powerpoint dialogs and prompts that I make to encourage creative conversation.  There is a LOT of preparation involved, and the cost is only 500 yen per student, but profit is not the point.  This is a great way to help my friends improve their English, it's good practice for me as a teacher, (I'm getting really good at making powerpoint presentations), it lets me be totally creative, and its FUN!

ズームアップのクラスの日を決める時に、MixiでZoomUPのコミュニティーで書きます。 生徒はレッスンに参加するつもりだったら、コミュニティーでサインアップをします。それは私の準備を手伝ってけど、空があったら、最後の分の参加して人は大丈夫です。Mixiで、テームも発表してので、いつも三つのテームが使います。例えば、次のレッスンは今週末の日曜日に、テームは野球と日本の料理を記述と友達とどこかに手はず方です。色々方法を使ってので、子供の絵本とかゲームとか歌を使います。いつもパーワーポイントを作ります。そして、作ったスクリプトを使って、みなは英語を話してがんばります。 ズームアップはたくさんの準備を要るけど、５００円だけは値段です。私の理由は友達に英語を上手になる手伝いとか、私に先生の練習とか、例えば、パーワーポイントを使い事は上手なっていますので、とても創造的な機会とか、楽しいです。

If Zoom UP continues to be successful, I've been thinking that I might start a Zoom UP Pro, which would be after work one evening a week.  I was just talking about this with Monica, and brainstorming whether or not it would be a good idea, and how to manage getting the word out, because it wouldn't necessarily be just for skaters, but more for people who work near my home who want to Zoom UP their English. 

ズームアップの成功は続けたら、ズームアッププローを始まると思います。それは毎週一回の夕方で起こると思います。モニカと話したながら、ブレインストーミングをして、いい考えがまで分かりません。どうやって広告しても分からないです。ズームアッププローの標的な生徒はたぶん必ずしもスケータじゃないので、私の近所で働く人は英語をズームアップをしたいです。

My cookie recipes are in English

私のクッキーのレシピは英語であるよ。

このポストは最近のスケータのポーチパーティについてです。ポストは英語であるので、 英語の後に日本語で別のノートを書きます。その日本語は家族の計画についてです。　　Once or twice a year, Spring and/or Fall, we have a big gathering of Skater Friends at our home in Roppongi.  If the weather is nice, we can make effective use of the porch, and it's wonderful.  If the skies don't cooperate, like last spring's heavy winds and cold rain, it's still fun, but not as easy with the wet tarps, trapsing out to the coolers in soaking wet slippers, dealing with the grill in the rain, and it ends up being pretty crowded in our little Tokyo apartment.  We really got lucky last Saturday.  The 2009 Spring Skater Porch Party will be remembered as a successful outdoor party with a lovely gentle warm breeze at night.  Martin thinks it was our best party ever.

Certainly planning a party like this is a complicated project, with issues such as   how to have as many skaters as possible while keeping the total to less than 70 people, including kids.  My good friend, Kusacchi, made a website for the party with a forum that came in very useful for people to volunteer for the shopping, the cooking and to discuss important issues such as how much fish to buy for the temakizushi, and who's going to bring the wasabi. 

Weeks ago, the five cookie makers were chosen, as well as the small shopping crew who would go with Martin over to Nissen International Market for most of the goods.  An additional crew, The Tsukiji Gang, went straight to the famous Tokyo fish market to pick up the freshest seafood and fish for our handrolled sushi and seared tuna.  Scheduled to come later in the afternoon was the rest of the crew, who would prepare the balance of the food and have it ready by five when the main party would start.  At which time, Mat and Kaorin, doing accounts with their new baby girl nearby, would collect the fee from all the participants as they came in.

A few years ago, before the first Skater Porch Party, Kay-chan came over the day before, and with her developing English, and my much worse Japanese, we made a pile of delicious chocolate chip cookies for the party.  It was the first time she'd had a chance to bake like this, and it was a very interesting experience for both of us, working from an English recipe with typical ingredients, measuring devices and methods.  Since then, we've made cookie baking a regular part of the party prep.  Of the five people who would make cookies, I chose some with experience, and some without, and all who will speak to me in Japanese, but are willing to deal with English to some extent. 

Before the big day, I put all five cookie recipes up on my site, along with a picture of the person who would be in charge of that cookie.  See here and follow the flashing arrow.  Then, I notified the friends to check the site, read his or her recipe, and become somewhat familiar with it.  Each handled this differently.  Junko-san printed the English recipe out for chocolate sheet cake, then, using a translation site and dictionary, wrote out the Japanese translation under the English.  Naomi-san was able to assemble an accurate  Japanese recipe complete with pictures to help I-san make his snickerdoodles.  Yotte-san even went to the store and tried to get all the ingredients, which was very difficult, as he was assigned to make 7 Layer Magic Cookie Bars, containing butterscotch morsels and sweetened condensed milk.  Keiko-san pulled a switch and went shopping and left P-papa wearing a frilly pink apron to make the Cut-out cookies with Peach.  Naomi-san also helped Shigeshige with his Oatmeal cookies with raisons, dates and cranberries, and boy were they delicious.  Here's a few COOKING PIX. from Martin's camera. 

In addition to the five kinds of cookies, we made handrolled sushi, okinomiyaki, quesadillas, vegetable cabobs, Martin's steak, grilled tuna, brats, quacamole, cheese, fruit, salad, baked beans and deviled eggs. For me, it is tremendous Japanese practice, very challenging, but just what I need to make progress.  It's also a good chance to share some English practice with these friends.  This time, I was very careful not to allow too many volunteers.  It really is amazing to see what we can accomplish.  I was very pleased that Touma-san brought her wonderful home baked breads, and Luis came with 3 pans of yummy quiche, and thrilled that Yagami-mama brought those delightful quail eggs she makes. The skaters took turns cleaning up the kitchen, washing dishes and carrying things back and forth, as well as creative Piyo-san who just keeps bringing new delicacies out of the kitchen throughout the party.  Seems that everyone feels comfortable, and that's a good situation.   Here's a few PARTY PIX. by Martin.  And here are Masa-don's pictures.

Martin carefully planned what he would do with the grill, used well practiced methods and set a timer every time he'd flip a steak.  He enjoys holding court at his grill, and the delicious morsels that he produces attest to his skill. Fun little video made by Shigeshige.    In addition to enjoying the preparation all day long, I had a good time at the party itself.  I sampled everything, but didn't overeat or overdrink.  I got a chance to talk to everyone who came, enjoying friends with whom I skate regularly, as well as catching up with long-time friends who don't come skating as much any more.  And making connections... introducing this one to that one, mentioning that they have something in common that they might not have discovered...  just enjoying this time together as a gift like the good weather that day.  At this point we don't have plans to move, but one never knows.  In this environment, any moment, everything could change.  So if that wasn't our last porch party in Tokyo, great!  If it was, well, it was a good one!  BTW, here's Iwa-san's City Run Photo Website, for frequent photos of this group skating.

上は英語で、今年の春のスケータのポーチパーティの説明です。いろいろ事を喋るので、とくにクッキーを準備と料理を準備も話します。そうすると、時間があったら、英語を読んでみてください。それは無理だったら、翻訳を使ってもいいですか？それをしたくなかったら、写真を見てくださいね。

別のことを話したいです。最近、彼の会社の難事があるから、友達たちは不思議します。私たちも、何が予期分からない。そして、友達たちは分からないので、それは最後のポーチパーティですかと聞きます。

じゃ、今、引っ越しの計画がないよ。モニカとジョナの学校はとてもいいだので、 彼の会社は何もと言いない、彼の毎日の仕事は忙しい続いたら、たぶん大丈夫です。でも、今週、破産は来ると思います。それの結果が分からないので、待って、見て、聞いて、後に分かってくると思います。　忍耐強いしたいです。

今の計画は日本に住んで続きます。計画は８月に普通のように、子供はちょふの学校に新しい年生に行きます。いつも夏でアメリカに行って、長い複雑な旅行に行くけど、今年私は一週間だけに、両親に訪れます。全部は突然に変わったら、家族はがんばります。

そして、みなは将来が分からないね。最後のポーチパーティですが？分からない。最後のパーティがなかったら、いいですね。最後のパーティがあるだったら、とても楽しいパーティでしたね。笑泣。

 

To see this picture large size, Follow THIS LINK.  大きい写真を見たら、リンクに行ってください。

Forget Fluency

流暢を忘れてもいいです。

 

A long time ago, when Monica was a second grader and Jonah was in kindergarten, and we were in the process of moving to Japan from Tennessee for what we thought would be a 2 1/2 year stint, many well intentioned people with no real experience told us how lucky we were that our kids would become fluent in a foreign language.  "They'll pick it right up." they said, "Kids are like sponges." 

Well, here we are just over eight years later, and the kids are far from fluent in Japanese.  I'm a little better, and Martin is doing best of all, but neither of us would admit to fluency.  Hindsight is 20/20, but if we had it to do over, knowing we would be here so long, we might have put the kids in a Japanese elementary school upon arrival for a year or two with the idea that immersion at school at such a young age could make a significant difference.  But there's no going back, and we wouldn't have wanted to miss all those wonderful experiences at ASIJ anyway.  They do learn Japanese at school, but it is an academic subject, not an immersion experience.  Those first 2 1/2 years, when Martin was working at Honda R & D, he was living away from the family during the week and all he did was work and study Japanese.  He had an excellent teacher, and he was an enthusiastic student.  During my first year here, I learned hiragana and katakana, and a few words that would get me home in a taxi if necessary, or little phrases like "Ohayogozaimasu" (Good morning) and  "Ikuradesuka?"  (How much does it cost?).  Finding out how REALLY DIFFICULT Japanese is definitely contributed to my poor adjustment that first year.  But things got better....  see the package of yakisoba there?  Recently I actually made it by following the directions on the bag and guessing the parts I couldn't read.

In 2004, after living in Japan for almost four years, Martin took the level 3 Japanese Proficiency Exam and PASSED!  He really deserved to pass because he studied so hard.  At that time, I was studying Japanese nearly every day on my own, and taking private lessons once or twice a week, but it was the furthest thing from my mind to take the test.  Attitudes change, and in 2006, when my excellent teacher, Matsui-san suggested I might want to take the JLPT six months later, I considered it.  I knew, I wasn't ready for Level 3, and probably wouldn't pass even with several months of studying at my pace.  However, I felt quite certain that I could pass Level 4, which is lower.  The test is only given once a year.  I ultimately decided that it wouldn't really help me any to take and pass level 4, that instead I should study for level 3, and take the test considering it a practice test.  This went fine.  After taking the all day test in December 2006, I knew I hadn't passed, but when I got the results in February that said I failed, I still cried.  But we were right, it was good practice, and in 2007 I took Level 3 again and this time I passed. 

In 2008, when I suggested to Monica and Jonah that they should study for and take the Level 4 JLPT in December, they both balked, but somehow we were able to turn it into a competition between them.  Recently we got the results, and THEY BOTH PASSED!!!  Yeah, that's great.  Here's a photo of Monica's test results.  Both kids were glad to pass but didn't make a big deal about it.  (Not like when Monica made the VARSITY SOCCER TEAM last week.  Still, I think its a confidence booster, and I've noticed both of them taking the chance much more often to speak Japanese.

For example, a few weeks ago, Jonah's turtle, Zeus, developed a large bump on his ear.  I had already taken him to Toby's vet but it didn't change, so this time I used Japanese Google and I found a Vet in Yotsuya who seemed to specialize in reptiles.  Just finding the place used all my Japanese skills, and over the course of several visits I met three vets who spoke very little English.  Still, we were able to sort out what needed to be done.  They wanted me to give the turtle an antibiotic injection every day.  Which we did, of course, for a month, with good results.  While at the office, Jonah asked the doctor in Japanese if Zeus was a boy or a girl.  (he's a boy)  Then, he asked if it was alright to keep Zeus in the same tank with Gina and Spitfire. I was actually surprised that he took the initiative, and I didn't interrupt for a change. 

Speaking of fluency, you know I've been teaching English for awhile via private lessons and with a school, but recently I decided to start a group lesson on Sunday afternoons for skaters and their families.  With the help of my friend,   I set up a community "Zoom UP" on Mixi (which is like a Japanese Facebook) and people who joined the group are welcome to sign up to come to individual classes when it's convenient for them.  I'm only offering the class twice a month when it works with my schedule, and I'm only charging 500 yen for the hour and a half lesson, but the idea is not to make money, but to encourage my friends to become more comfortable with listening to and speaking English.  I've created a safe environment where they may not be too embarrassed to practice, and I think it will work out once the word gets out that its a fun way to make progress.  My first class had five students and I think it went very well.  I used a variety of methods such as reading a children's book with beautiful pictures of fruit to talk about adjectives, using toys to talk about transportation and a powerpoint presentation for repeating dialog about asking directions. 

Of course, the very best way to improve your language skills is to practice with friends, and we are so lucky to have our skater friends for that.  A couple of weeks ago, we went on a weekend ski trip to Yuzawa with over twenty skater friends and family.  It was a wonderful chance to practice Japanese, share our English skills.  Sasaki-san organized this trip using mixi (it's our third annual skater's ski tour) so I wrote on mixi that I would bring the bingo game if some folks would bring prizes.  Well that worked out so well.  I called the bingo numbers in Japanese for the first two games and then surprised everyone and called them in English for the next game.  It was so fun.  Kinoshita-san brought a funny cowhead hat which was won by Noel-chan and then everyone tried it on one at a time.  You have to see these photos.  I'm slowly getting the other ski and food photos up, but it takes time.  Martin takes so many good photos, it takes a long time to process them.  HERE THEY ARE.

You may have guessed that the top picture is supposed to signify fluency with the cranes taking off into the sky.   Well, that works for me.  They are so graceful, and being a symbol of Japan, it is a fitting image.  The picture is of the top of a tea box that I recently covered with washi paper and shellac.  This is a big box, lined in thin metal, usually used to store either tea or nori (seaweed) as it keeps out humidity, so I plan to find a nice place to set it and fill it with treasured things.

Unlike usual, I didn't write this post in Japanese as well as English.  I had thought about this post for so long and not written it, that I felt a real sense of urgency to write it before we go to Saipan tomorrow.  As it takes many hours to write the same thing in Japanese, I'll have to skip it this time and pack instead.  But I promise to come back strong next time.  ごめなさい。今度のポーストは英語でだけ。家族の日本語の勉強することで、私の新しい英語のクラスについてです。もう、ジョナのカメについてです。

Ms. Kuki's English Salon

くきさんの英語のサロン

 

下に日本語で要約を書きました。This is Kuki-san.  She's one of the special people I've met here in Japan, and have grown very fond of.  Some years ago, Kuki-san was a television personality, and she still has a flair with the microphone.  These days, she's running an "English Salon" and I'm glad that she often asks me to be the Native English Speaker for a lesson.  Here's how it works:  Kuki-san has a few groups of mostly ladies, and each group gets together once a month for an "English lesson."  All the members of the group will typically meet at a coffee shop, and Kuki-san will arrange for a Native English speaker to attend and give a presentation or discussion to the ladies.  In the course of the 80 minute event, there will be some kind of interesting dessert served with coffee or tea.  Some of these ladies (and at least one man) have been attending the English Salon for many years, having formed strong friendships within the group, and of course, with Kuki-san.  Some of the native speakers as well, have been helping for a long time and are well known to the members, though most of Kuki-san's foreign helpers eventually move out of Japan when their circumstances change. 

I have had the pleasure of addressing these various groups a few times during the last two years, and even had two events at my home.  On each of those occasions, since they were different groups, I used the same topic.  Dogs.  Of course I introduced Toby to everyone, and gave them a tour of our porch.  Then we sat in the living room in a circle and I talked in English about dogs, sometimes translated by Kuki-san, telling stories about the various dogs I have had, reaching back to my childhood mutt, Rascal, the two beagles, both named Mickie, then the poodle mix called Cricket who we had in Omaha, the Cocker Spaniel named Ziff which Martin gave me soon after we met, and then our next Cocker, Bonnie.  Then came Shelby, the Sheltie that we had before we moved to Tokyo.  When talking about each dog, I showed the participants pictures of that kind of dog in a big dog book which I borrowed from Jonah.  This book is perfect, because it features full page pictures of each of the major breeds which everyone could see.  Then each of the participants told funny or nostalgic stories about their own beloved dogs, using English to the extend they can, and getting help when needed.  Then we all enjoyed a choice of fancy pastries which I'd picked up at a neighborhood cafe.

Another topic I've used is "Travel in Japan" where I start with some stories about our family's trips within Japan, of course including the time Martin's impeccable command of directions took us to where the trains sleep in Kyoto.  Well, that's a pretty funny story now, but at the time, at least three of us were crying as the all but for us empty train shut down and the lights went out.  Moral:  If you're ever on a train in Japan, and all the Japanese people get off, Get off!  On this topic, I take a large bilingual map of Japan and we talk about all the areas in Japan, and what there is to see and do there, how long it takes to get there, how do you get there (by train, boat, car).  These are words that language learners may have covered and enjoy reviewing, and it's a very interesting topic for me, as there is still much more of Japan I would like to explore.

Yet another fun thing I've done with Kuki-san, (twice) is attend her annual Christmas party.  This is a very special occasion, a Don't-miss-it event.  Everyone from all her groups attends, as well as all her native English speakers.  Kuki-san is so creative, we always get an invitation with a theme on what to wear, we bring a small gift to trade, and during the party we play silly games, have contests, eat wonderful food, drink and have a very good time with our friends.  As there are several very talented members of the group, there is always entertainment, and I have thoroughly enjoyed these parties. 

Here are several more pictures with Kuki's English Salon. 写真のリンクだよ。

けいれいな女の人上はくきさん。彼女はとても面白くて、特別人だので、私はよく好きです。前に、くきさんはテレビのタレントだので、このごろくきさんは英語のサロンがします。ときどき、私は助けてやれます。そのときに、私は自国語の英語の話している人です。いろいろグルプがある、コーヒー店で、毎月一回会います。いつも英語の話す人も来て、何かについて話して、みなは練習して、おいしいデザートとコーヒーかお茶を飲みます。レッスンは８０文間だので、たくさん人は多い年間参加しました。英語の人々も、長い時間関係してが、 ときどき祖国に引っ越します。

くきさんのプログラムをしったら、いつも楽します。二回グルプは私の家に来ました。別のグルプだので、両方は同じトピックをしました。犬について。最初に、私はトビを紹介をして、ポーチのツアーをしました。後で、みなは部屋で座って、私のいろいろ前の犬について話しました。（犬の名前や品種は英語で上に書いて、読んでください。）犬を話しながら、ジョナの犬の本を使って、写真を見せました。その後で、みなは自分の犬とか子供のころ犬について話しました。物語は面白くて、時々懐郷です。英語でやってみてので、日本語でも大丈夫です。後で、みなは前に近くカーフェから買ったデザートを楽しみました。

他のトッピクは日本の中の旅行です。私は大きい日本語や英語の日本の地図を持っていきました。最初に私は面白い物語を教えました。たとえば、京都に行って、マーティンはいつも地図で上手だので、ぜんぜん方向を探さない。それから、駅で私たち以外みな降りたが、  彼の地図を見て、彼はまだといいました。でも、次に、電車は電車が寝る所に行って、電車は止めて、電気は止めて、 みなは泣きました。今面白いけど、その時に、とても心配でした。それから、みなは自分の日本の旅行を話して、たとえば、地図のところ、何をして、何を見て、どうやって行って、どのぐらいかかりますか？その会話はよかったです。

毎年、くきさんはクリスマスパーティがある、みなは行ってほしいと思います。とてもたのしいです。くきさんは創造的なので、前にテームを教えて、皆はそのテームの服を着ている。パーティで楽しいゲームを遊んで、おいしい料理を食べて、飲んで、笑って、楽します。いつもタレントなグルプな人を楽しませる。くきさんの英語のサロンはすばらしいです。