Toyo Gakuen University Open Campus Lesson 2010

J-Pop Stars Picnik collage
Originally uploaded by Toyo Gakuen University English Classes

Hello and welcome to Toyo Gakuen University. Today we are going to learn English through J-Pop. Some J-Pop stars sing in English too. Look at the picture below. Do you know these J-Pop stars?









You can learn more about J-Pop stars singing in English here:http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/toyo-gakuen-university-open-campus.html


Now let's enjoy some music!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-3A Writing Spring Semester 2010 Final Lesson

Hello everyone!
Today is the last lesson of this class, so I have a special treat for you, but first let's review some vocabulary. Please click this link: 基礎英語ステップ２.
Look at the video below. I made the movie. A Shibaura Institute of  Technology (芝浦工業大学) student wrote a paragraph about his ideal partner, and used it to make the movie. Please watch the movie, and listen. After please answer the questions below.





1. What kind of partner does Daisuke want?
2. Why does he want a partner with these characteristics?

Now let's make our own movies! Please click this link: xtranormal - create an account.

After you register, open your "My Ideal Partner" second draft file. Select all, copy, and paste. Then you can make your movie.
Enjoy!

The Dalai Lama has the courage to speak "broken English". Do you?

Last month, His Holiness The Dali Lama visited Japan. My friend Larry Cisar  invited me to see the Dali Lama at the Foreign Correspondents' Club press conference. Unfortunately I had to work that day. I hope I can see him the next time he comes to Japan.  I am always moved by the Dalia Lama's words. I was especially happy to read the words quoted in the image below. His words made me think. If a great man like the Dalai Lama is willing to risk losing face (顔が立たない, 恥をかく) by speaking "imperfect" English, why are so many English language learners afraid to practice speaking English? Why is it such a source of embarrassment to them? Ichirou has lived in America for many years now. He uses English in his day-to-day life, but he never gives interviews in English. Why? Is he better than the Dalai Lama. Are you better than the Dalai Lama? Of course not. If the Dalai Lama has the courage to speak broken English so should everyone. ダライラマが出来るなら、皆も出来るね。

Image by Garr Reynolds and JUDIT KAWAGUCHI

You can see the entire quote in the image above in Japanese. Please click this link: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2d5mwpp
These images were made by a great teacher called Garr Reynolds. I've learned much about giving presentations from him. Mr. Reynolds used a photo from an article about the Dalai Lama's visit on Judit Kawaguchi's Blog.

Have courage. Practice what you learn, not only English, but everything you learn, and make a contribution to the world.

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English 1A 2010 Final Exam Study Guide

Adapted from a photo uploaded to Flickr by Abdullah Al-Jowair

The Final Exam is Monday the 12th of July 2010. Yeah!!!

The exam covers Units 4 and 6, pp. 34-40 and pp. 50-56, 58,59 (テストの範囲は ユニト4と6です). The exam will include listening, reading and writing.

* Do Unit 6 on the self-study CD ROM
* Do the iKnow, Dictation and Brain Speed lessons on smart.fm
* Study the writing file on p.130
Study hard!

楽天：英語を１２年中に社内公用語化 English will be the official language of Rakuten!

Do you know Rakuten? I think you know Rakuten. Of course you know Rakuten! Rakuten is going to make English it's official language.
You can read about this in English. Click this link: http://preview.tinyurl.com/39w4szu
You can also read about this in Japanese. Click this link: http://preview.tinyurl.com/39fgvd5
 Fast Retailing Company, the parent company (親会社) of popular clothing store chain Uniqlo is also going to make English its official language.  Furthermore, all business meetings at Nissan are held in English. 
European companies, including the German companies BMW and Siemans do business in English. The largest English speaking country in the world is China. Over 300 million people in China speak English! That's three times the entire population of Japan! 
Little by little Japanese will have real motivation to learn English.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2A Reading Final Exam Study Guide

Original illustration by Yuji Tachikawa from the eBook version.

Hello everyone!
Well the semester is almost over. Today we are going to review the story we have been studying this semester - The Inverted Eagle. The final exam is next Friday 9 July at 10:40. The exam will be an hour long. The exam is worth 40% of your final grade. Please study hard, and please go to the English lounge for Self Study Support if you need help. I'm the Self Study Support teacher on Wednesdays from 12:15 - 12:50.
OK, here's your study guide:

The final exam has two parts: Vocabulary and Comprehension.
Vocabulary - 10 points
Please review the vocabulary list on smart.fm: 応用英語1-2A Reading.
Also, please review the vocabulary sections of the quizzes, and the puzzles in your textbook on pp. 16,17; 28,29; 40,41; 50,51; 63,64; 75,76. Please be sure that you have written every word in your detective's notebook including each word's part of speech (POS 品詞), an English definition (定義), and an example sentence (例文). You should use an example sentence from the story.
Comprehension - 30 points
The comprehension section includes questions from Quizzes 1-6. It also includes questions from the chapter puzzles. The question types include multiple choice (多項選択式の問題), true/false, fill in the blanks (空欄にご記入), and short answer questions. You will also have to fill in a timeline of the crime, and write a short summary.
Don't forget to review all the mind maps posted on this blog too.
Good luck!

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day everyone!
I discovered a really cool music video. The video is called Canadian, Please. The music is like rap. You can read the lyrics as you watch and listen.
Enjoy!