Travel English Unit 3: Can I change some money here?

Flikr photo originally uploaded by I. Fawaz

Today's lesson is about money! Let's look at the lesson plan.

Lesson goals

• Learn and remember the names of foreign currencies.
  
• Listen to big numbers. Listen and choose the correct price.
• Say big numbers with good pronunciation.
• Remember useful words, phrases and vocabulary that you can use at a foreign exchange office.
• Learn how to keep your money safe while travelling.
• Complete a practice test.

Part 1: Foreign Currencies

• Make a list of currencies you know.
  

• Click the picture above. Look at the notes. What currencies are in the picture?
  

• Click this link: Travel Lesson 3.
  
• Look at the right side of Mr. Stout's Blog. Use the currency conversation exchange widget. Fill in the table below:

Foreign Currency	Yen (￥)
Four hundred U.S. dollars	￥42,718
One thousand Indian Rupees
Forty thousand Hong Kong dollars
Sixty Canadian dollars
Seven hundred Australian dollars
Fifty British Pounds
Eight hundred Euros

Part 2: Understanding large numbers and prices

• Listen to the conversations and do the task on p.10 of your textbook.
• Practice saying long numbers.
  

Part 3: Vocabulary

• Click this link: Travel English E-J. Look at the flashcards and play the vocabulary games
• Click this link: 旅に出よう！（出国＆街を歩く）. Click iKnow. Do the lesson.

Part 4: Keeping your money safe.

• Read the background notes on p. 60 of your textbook. Answer the questions below:

1. Where can you change money and travellers' cheques?
2. Give two reasons why using travellers' cheques is a good idea.
3. What the 5 rules at the end of the background notes?

Part 5: Practice Test

• Click this link: Passport Online Tests. Choose Units 2 and 3. Do the test. Print your score and give it to Mr. Stout.

That's all. Have a nice Golden Week. Do you have any travel plans? Please post a comment and tell me.

Toyo Gakuen University: Freshman English 2 – Reading: Unit 2: Living in the U.S.A

Flickr image originally uploaded by Stuck in customs. Uploaded on August 17, 2007

Lesson Goals

To be able to:

• Write a short report about a Book
• Make a list of words related to the topic - The United States
• Make a list on smart.fm
  
• Compare the stories of three immigrants to the U.S.
• Relate the readings to your own life

Part 1: Sustained silent Reading (SSR)

• Read your graded reader for 5 minutes

Part 2: Extensive Reading Book Report

• Use the form Extensive Reading Book Report form. The form is in the lecture folder. Fill in the form with information about a graded reader that you have read.
  

Part 3: Vocabulary

• Click this link: FE2 Pre-Intermediate Reading Unit 1. Click iKnow. Review the vocabulary from unit 1. Do the lesson.
• Scan pp.14 and 15 of your textbook. Find 5 words that you don't know well. Underline the words in the text. Watch and listen to Mr. Stout. Make a vocabulary study list on smart.fm.
• Look at the flash cards below.

More flashcards, word search, and hangman provided by StudyStack.com

Part 4: Reading - Living in the U.S.A

Before you read - Thinking about the topic

• Watch the video "Living in America ". Make a list of things you see and hear.

Jigsaw Reading

• Do activities 2 - 5 on p.14

After you read: What do you think?

• Write 3-5 sentences about living in Japan. Use the form below to help you.

Living in Japan

There are several things I like about living in Japan. First_______________________. Also___________________.  Finally__________________.

• Write 3 questions that you would like to ask a foreign person living in Japan.
  

Toyo Gakuen University: Introduction to Business English 1A Lesson 2

Today we finally start using our textbook. Yeah!! Please look at the lesson plan below.

Lesson Goals:

To be able to:

• confidently meet a new business partner and exchange business cards.

• use the self-study C.D. ROM

• Read a short article about Jeffrey Immelt and do the following tasks:

• Fill in a chart
• Answer True/False questions
• Write 5 questions based on the article
• Remember information from the article

• Listen to 3 conversations and do the following tasks:

• Answer True/False questions
• Fill in blanks in the conversation transcript (録音したもの)

Part 1: Exchanging business cards

• Take out the business cards that you made last class. Put them in your business card case. Put the business card case in your breast pocket (胸ポケット) or in the inside pocket of your jacket. Women may put the case in their bags.
• Find a partner. Stand up. Face your partner. Make eye contact. Introduce yourself and exchange business cards. Repeat. Exchange business cards with everyone in the class.

Part 2: Homework check

• Click this link: Introduction to Business English A: Exchanging Business Cards . Do the quiz. Stand up. Report your answers.

Part 3: Vocabulary review

• Click this link: TYG Introduction to Business English Vocabulary List 1
  
• Click "iKnow". Do the lesson.

Part 4: Reading - "Meet Jeffrey Immelt" textbook p.9
Before you read: Thinking about the topic
Look at the picture. This is Nobuyuki Idei (出井伸之) He is the former CEO of Sony. What kind of company is Sony? Talk about it with your partner. Use your imagination (想像力). Answer the questions below:
1. Is this man rich?
2. How many days a week does this man work?
3. How many hours a day does this man work?
4. What are his interests and hobbies?


Image originally uploaded
by Joi to Wikimedia Commons


While you read:

• Read "Meet Jeffrey Immelt" on p.9.
  
• Do the tasks a and b.

After you read: Do task c.

Part 4: Listening

• Listen to the conversations. Do tasks a, b and c on p.12

Part 5: Consolidating your learning

• Do the case study on p.13 of your textbook. Use your business cards.
  

Homework:

• Do Unit 1 on the Self-study C.D. ROM.
• Continue studying the 語学試験の学習リスト vocabulary list.
• Write a short e-mail. See Unit 1 p. 13 and Writing File p130. Send your e-mail to michael dot stout at tyg dot jp.
  

Homestay English Semester 1 2009 Unit 1: Choosing a homestay.

Today we will learn about choosing a homestay.
Click this link to practice some useful vocabulary: TYG Homestay English Unit 1 vocabulary list.
My dream is to do a homestay in Tahiti. Here's a video about a living in Tahiti. Watch the video. The leave a comment.


Tahiti Living from John Maher on Vimeo.

Do you want to do a homestay in Tahiti? Why? What can you do on a homestay in Tahiti? Click comment below and answer the questions.

Another Toyo Gakuen student makes a cartoon movie using Dvolver

Last year Hidenori made a movie using Dvolver. Today he taught Kazuki how to do it. Kazuki's movie is below. Enjoy!

Travel English Unit 2: Can I have your passport please.

Flickr photo originally uploaded by Mondayne

Today we will learn useful English for immigration and customs.
Please click this link: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/toyo-gakuen-university-interest-based_26.html
After the lesson please tell me, "Did you enjoy the lesson? Please leave a comment.

FE2 Reading - Unit 1: People the Great Communicators

Universal Playground, originally uploaded by ~Prescott.

Today we start the first unit in our text book.
Let's start by thinking about the topic. Look at the pictures here. What kind of communication is happening?

Flickr photo originally uploaded by Akbar Simonse

 Flickr photo originally uploaded by Dia™

Flickr phoyo originally uploaded by Teone!

Now open the lecture folder and save today's handout.
Let's enjoy today's lesson!

Introduction to Business English A: Exchanging Business cards

Today we are going to practice exchanging business cards. Here's a video about the etiquette of exchanging business cards. Watch the video and do the quiz. Enjoy!

Shibaura Institute of Technology Students make more rules

Yesterday was the first days of classes for the 英語総合１A (Global Issues) and Writing 1A courses at Shibaura Institute of technology. We made some class rules together. You can see them below.

Class rules for students made by 英語総合１A (Global Issues) students:

My favourite rules from the 英語総合１A (Global Issues) class are:

• Students should speak English Loudly
• Students should enjoy the class

Now here are the rules for me.

My favourite rule for me is:

• The teacher should make the tests easier.

This is an example of a negotiated rule.  Originally, this rule was, "The teacher must make easy tests." I promised to make the tests easier by preparing the students well.

Now here are class rules made by Writing 1A students. First, rules for students:

 

My favourute rule is:

• Students should try to like Michael

Next are the rules for me.

 

I like all these rules. The Writing 1A class thought of many rules for me. My favourites are:

• Michael must not forget to smile
  
• Michael must be funny and make us laugh.

There are many examples of negotiated rules here. For example, the first rule for me originally was, "Michael must remember the names of all the students in this class." I said,  "無理!" That's impossible. So the students softened the rule. 

This task was based on a task designed by my colleague Dave Rear at Shibaura Institute of Technology. Thanks Dave!
What do you think of the class rules? Please leave a comment.

Back to School - Shibaura Institute of Technology

Yesterday was the first lesson for the 英語 L and S (English Listening and Speaking) class. Together we made some class rules. You can see the rules for the students in the picture below.

My favourite "rule" is "We should not say, 'May I go to the toilet'. We should say, 'Excuse me, I'm going to the toilet'". Before the class made these rules we did another task about "Classroom language". The task was designed by a colleague. It was an ordering task. For example:
toilet I may go to the? ➾ May I go to the toilet?
I said, "May I go to the toilet?" is for children. Excuse me, I'm going to the toilet is for adults". So, I was very impressed when I heard a student suggest this rule.

You can see the rules for me in the picture below.

"Students must not use their mobile phones in class" is a common rule in Japan. I used my mobile phone to take the photos of the rules on the blackboard. I was very impressed that this rule was made for me.

Last year the L & S class made some rules too. You can see those rules here: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/09/back-to-school-shibaura-institute-of.html

What do you think of these rules? Please leave me a comment.

Travel English Introductory Lesson Spring 2009

Welcome to Travel English. Today we will learn about the course. Let's look at the interesting links below.
Passport Online
旅に出よう！（出国＆街を歩く）
Travel Vocabulary I

Where do you want to travel. Please leave a comment.

FE2 Reading - Lesson 1

Welcome to Freshman English 2 Reading. In our first lesson we are going to learn about the course. This semester we will be doing many things including Extensive Reading, Intensive Reading, and vocabulary study.

Click these links to learn about Extensive Reading:

グレイディッド・リーダーとは何でしょうか？

めざせ100万語！多読で学ぶSSS英語学習法
Graded Reading

Click these links to see some great websites for vocabulary learning:

Unit 1 Study Stack Vocabulary Flash Cards
Unit 1 Quizlet Vocabulary Flashcards
Unit 1 smart.fm vocabulary list

Click here for a link to a website with exercises for American Headway 2

I think you will really enjoy this course. Let's enjoy reading together!

東洋学園 University - Classes Begin!

Today is the first day of classes. Today is the first time we will meet. I made a slideshow about me. Please watch the slideshow. Click this link: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/first-day-of-school-introductions.html
Watch the slideshow. Answer the questions on the handout.
Next, here are some websites we will use this year:

smart.fm is a great website for learning vocabulary. Click here to see a video about how to use iKnow on smart.fm.

Click the link to see an one of the vocabulary lists that you can study using smart.fm - 基礎英語　ステップ1

You can find more great links on the English Lounge Self Study page.
Now click the link for your course:
Interest-based English 4 - Homestay
Introduction to Business English A

Last, please leave me a comment. Tell me about your first day of classes.

Homestay Class Semester 1 2009 Lesson 1

Welcome to the Homestay Class. First, let's think about good places to do a homestay.
I love to travel. Please look at my travel map below.

1. Bora Bora, French Polynesia
2. Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
3. Udaipur, India
4. Galway, Ireland
5. Barcelona, Spain
6. Dublin, Ireland
7. London, UK
8. Melbourne, Australia
9. Hilo, HI, USA
10. Tokyo, Japan

• View my profile
• Create your own travel map or travel blog
• Travel Info at TripAdvisor

Do you know these places? Where would want to go? Where do you want to do a homestay? Ask the two classmates. Remember the answers. Stand-up and tell the class.

Now let's learn some vocabulary. Click these links:
Homestay Lesson 1 Vocabulary List

Click here to download your task sheet for this lesson: Homestay English Lesson 1 Tasks

Write a comment. Introduce yourself and tell me where you would like to do a homestay.

Introduction to Business English A - Lesson 1

Welcome to Introduction to Business English A. In today's class we are going to learn about meeting people. We will also learn how to make business cards.

Click this link to make your own business cards: http://bizcardcreator.com/

You will learn many new words in this class. We will use the internet to learn and practice new words. Let's watch a video. The video shows how to use iKnow on smart.fm.



Click this link to learn some useful vocabulary: http://smart.fm/lists/69241

東洋学園大学 First Year Orientation

The new school year has started. On Saturday the fourth of April, first year students at Toyo Gakuen University came to school for orientation. They had lunch with teachers, professors and staff members. They also learned about the university and the various clubs by doing a stamp rally. Here are some pictures of the orientation below.

Some of the clubs set up booths to recruit new members

Andy took his students for a tour of the campus

We had lunch in the cafeteria. Click the picture to see the notes.

Here's Mr. Hardy in the English Lounge.

The orientation was a big success. Classes start on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to it!