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。