CE-II Autumn 2014: The New Semester Begins!

Hello everyone, welcome back!
Today we are going to start our next unit of study. We are going to study....water.
First, lets study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 2.
This semester we are going to use the manaba learning management system. You can find all the course documents on manaba, and you will use manaba to do tests and assignments. You will also receive course news and announcements from manaba.
Please log into manaba and download the course outline. Next, please check out the other resources I have uploaded for you, and finally please do the quiz I've made for you.

That's all for today.

See you next week!

Integrated English II for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Welcome Back!

Hello everyone, welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the summer.

Today we are going to begin the second half of our course.

This semester we will read two detective stories. For the first half of the semester we will read Death on U Street, the second story in our textbook, Fiction in Action - Whodunit. Death on U Street is another story featuring Detective Ellie Koo. I'm sure you will enjoy it very much. Just like last semester, there will be a quiz after each chapter.

In the second half of the course we will read The Sign of Four, which is a Sherlock Holmes Story.

First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Death on U Street Chapter 1 Vocabulary.

Death on U Street is fiction, of course, but U Street is a real street in Washington D.C. You can see U Street in the image below.


View U Street NW, Washington, DC in a larger map

Ok, now let's start reading. Enjoy!

IE-II PhysEd B4 First class of the Autumn Term

Hello everyone,
welcome back! I hope you enjoyed the summer holiday. This semester we are going to talk about sports in general, and health and fitness. Today's topic is the Olympics. Let's start with some vocabulary study. Please click the link: IE-II PhysEd Vocabulary.



Now please log in to manaba. Please download the handouts for today's class. Now let's listen to an English teacher called Sean Banville talk about his favourite sports. Please click the link: ListenAMinute.com Sport.
That's all for today. We'll do a quiz about today's class next time. See you next week.

The University of Tsukuba Autumn Semester 2014 Classes Begin!

Hello everyone,
I hope you enjoyed your summer.
This semester I have four new classes. You will have to register for your courses on manaba today. Please click the link, log in,  and register for your course on manaba. After you have registered for the course, please click the resources tab and download your course outline.
Next, if you have not registered for Quizlet, please click the link and register. After that please join your class on Quizlet. Please click the appropriate link below:



Seminar on English Writing for Academic Purposes I

Seminar on English Writing for Academic Purposes II

Students in the Seminar on English Presentation for Academic Purposes please click the following link: Presentation 1 Welcome

That's all for today. See you next week!

Shibaura Institute of Technology Autumn 2014 Classes - Joining Coursebase

Hello everyone,
Last week I introduced you to the courses you will be taking this semester, and you learned how to register for Quizlet, and how to use it. Now we are going to start learning the content of the courses, but first we need to register for Coursebase, a Learning Management System (LMS), or 学習管理システム in Japanese. An LMS is a software application that helps us organise the content of an e-learning course. OK, let's get started!

Shibaura Institute of Technology Autumn 2014 Classes Begin!

Hello everyone!

Today I'm going to introduce you to the course you are taking this semester and then we will start using an online vocabulary learning tool called Quizlet.

Please click the link to your course outline below.




TOEIC I-B

English Communication I

Writing I-B

OK, now let's sign up for Quizlet. Please click the link: quizlet.com

Next, click "Sign Up", then follow the instructions to register.

Finally, click the link for your course below.

TOEIC I-B

English Communication I

Writing I-B

Now let's have some fun studying vocabulary. Click the "Class lists" tab, then click the link to your class' vocabulary list.
Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuin University Autumn 2014 Classes Begin!

Welcome back everyone!
This semester we are going to have our classes in a computer room. We are going to have our classes in a computer room so that we can use some cool online applications. The first one we will use is Quizlet. Please click the link to download "Getting Started with Quizlet Togaku 2014" Follow the instructions. Register (登録する) for Quizlet.



Please link the link for your class below:

応用英語I-2B

基礎英語4B

Now let's start learning some vocabulary using Quizlet. Look at the picture below. Go to this page in Quizlet. Click CiC Unit 4 (Skills)

That's all for today. Next week we will start practicing a conversation about the skills we have.
See ya!

Writing 2 Spring 2014 Weeks 11 & 12: Task 3 - The Comparative Essay

Hello everyone, Today we are going to write the first draught of our comparative essay. First, let's watch a video made by an American student in Nagasaki called Hannah. Take notes as you watch the video, and answer the questions below.

 

1. What were the two housing options Hannah had to choose from?
2. What problem did Hannah have before she went to Nagasaki?
3. What does Hannah say about the pros and cons (賛否両論) of living in the girls' dorm at Nagasaki University of Foreign Studies?
4. What are the good points and the bad points about the dorm cafeteria?
5. What does Hanna say about the office staff?
6. What facilities does the dorm have?
7. How does Hannah's dorm room in Japan compare to the dorm room she had in America?
8. What does she love about living in the dorm?
9. Why didn't she choose a homestay?
10. What questions do you have for Hannah? Write one and post it as a comment on her YouTube Channel.

OK, now start writing! Write a four-paragraph comparative essay about two types of housing. Your essay should be at least 300 words long. Please submit your essay to my mailbox on the 4th floor of the Foreign Language Centre by Wednesday 9th July at noon.                
Enjoy!

Integrated English I for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Week 8: Chapter 6 Quiz

Well everyone, this is the last class of the semester. Today we'll review Chapter 6 and do the last quiz.

Let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: The Inverted Eagle Chapter 6 Vocabulary.

Now with your group please review Chapter 6. You can see a complete mind map of the suspects by clicking the link.

I hope you enjoyed the story. we will read the second story Death on U Street next semester.

Have a nice summer!

Integrated English 1 for Physical Education Majors B4 Week 8: Last Class

Hello everyone,

Well, we've come to the end of this semester. I hope you enjoyed reading about Paul Kariya. This biography was published in 2000. At that time Kariya was still playing in Anaheim. Later, he played in Colorado, Nashville, and St. Louis. His career ended early because of all the concussions he suffered. Concussions are a big problem in sports, especially hockey. In the video above you can see the bone-crushing hit Kariya took from Scott Stevens of the New Jersey Devils during the Stanley Cup Final. Hits like this caused Kariya to suffer concussions and shortened his career.

OK, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link:  IE-I PE (B4) Vocabulary.

Finally, please make sure you have finished all the quizzes, and your assignments on Chieru.

Have a nice summer. See you in October!

Integrated English I for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Week 7: Chapter 5 Quiz

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to review Chapter 5 and then do the Chapter 5 quiz. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: The Inverted Eagle Chapter 5 Vocabulary.

Here's a good summary of Chapter 5 by Karenne Sylvester's student Martina R. in Germany.

Chapter 5 – Family Secrets

Ellie had a daughter. When Ellie investigated a hot case and needed a lot of time, Sofia –  her daughter – stayed sometimes at her neighbor.

Ellie talked again with Allison. The daughter of the Reed´s didn´t believe that Miguel was a criminal. Ellie discussed again with Allison about the relationship between both and checked the schedule last night. Allison had an advantage, her diary, in which Ellie found the proof that Allison told the truth.

Later Ellie decided to check the bedroom of the Reeds once again and she found new findings.

OK, please read the last chapter and find out whodunit!

Integrated English 1 for Physical Education Majors B4 Week 7: Paul Kariya Chapter 5

Hello everyone,

Well, we're almost done. Today we'll finish the Paul Kariya biography. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: IE-I PE (B4) Vocabulary.

Now let's finish reading the book, and do the quiz on manaba.

Enjoy!

Writing 2 Spring 2014 Weeks 8-10: Preparing to Write a Comparative Essay

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to start our next writing task, a comparative essay. Look at the diagram on the left. This is a floor plan from Laurier Hall at the University of Windsor. The University of Windsor is my alma mater. In my first year, I lived in MacDonald Hall, across the way from Laurier Hall, in a room exactly like this. The room was very small, about 4 metres long and only about 3 and a half metres wide. Can you believe that two people lived in this room for a whole year? To make matters even more difficult, my room mates was a slob. I was very neat and tidy in those days. You can see a panoramic view of a room in MacDonald Hall by clicking the link.



Do you live in one of the dorms on campus? How does your room compare to this room?
Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Word List.

Integrated English I for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Week 6: Chapter 4 Quiz

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to review Chapter 4 and do the Chapter 4 quiz.
Look at the image above. The image is a mind map showing the suspects, their motives and their lies. Using information from the mind map, make notes in your Detectives Notebook.

Let's review some vocabulary from Chapter 4. Please click this link: Inverted Eagle Chapter 4.

Next week we will review Chapters 5. We will also do the Chapters 5 quiz. Please read Chapter 5 and solve the puzzle. Also, don't forget to make good notes in your Detectives' Note Book.
Enjoy!

Integrated English 1 for Physical Education Majors B4 Week 6: Paul Kariya Chapter 4

Hello everybody, Today we are going to review Chapter 4 of our Paul Kariya biography and do a test. First, let's study some vocabulary using Quizlet. Please click the link: IE-I PE (B4) Vocabulary.

The video above was made by a Paul Kariya fan. I hope you enjoy it.
See you next week.

Cross Cultural Awareness and English Spring 2014 Week 7: Love and Marriage in Japan

Hello everyone.

Well this is the last class before the final test. You can download your study guide by clicking the link.  

Today we are going to talk about love and marriage in Japan. The material for today's lesson was written by two University of Tsukuba students. Click the link to download the handout.

Now let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Cross Cultural Awareness and English 1 Vocabulary.    

Next, let's start the project. Your project is due on 30 June. Please submit your project by e-mail.

Enjoy!

                    

Writing 2 Spring 2014 Week 7: Writing a Personal Narrative Part 3

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to start writing our second task. In order to prepare for that we will learn how to identify omissions (省略、削除、切り捨て、脱落), and how to use details to make the story more enjoyable to the reader. After that, we'll learn how to identify digressions (脇道), and get rid of them. We'll also learn how to identify and use the past perfect tense. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Word List.



OK, let's get started. Please submit the first draught of your second assignment to my mailbox in the Foreign Language Centre by next Wednesday 11th June at 3 pm.
Enjoy writing!

Writing 1 Spring 2014 Week 7: The Essay (Part 1)

Hello everyone, Well, we're almost done, and so it's time to learn how to write an essay. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click the link: Academic Wordlist.

OK, now we are going to learn how to write a 4-paragraph essay. Please submit your first draught to my mailbox on the 4th floor of the Foreign Language Centre by next Monday the 9th of June by 3 pm. 

Enjoy!

Integrated English I for Art & Design Majors (Class B) and Life and Environmental Science Majors (Class C1): Week 5: Chapter 3 Quiz

Hi everyone! Today we are going to review Chapter 3.

Illustration by Yuji Tachikawa. CC V1.0 Some rights reserved

First, let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: Inverted Eagle Chapter 3 Vocabulary.

Now let's read a great summary of Chapter 3 by Martina R., a student in Stuttgart, Germany:

Chapter 3 – The Hospital

The first lie: Judith told Ellie that she lied concerning the combination of the wall safe, she gave the numbers to Kevin. Because of her age, Judith forgot, that she also gave the combination to Miguel. After this, Ellie wanted to hear the whole story. Judith started to tell the story which had begun a month ago with the purchase of a beautiful stamp.

At the end of the conversation between Ellie and Judith Reed, Yokota, a colleague of Ellie, and Kevin entered the room. Ellie saw Kevin and she accused him of lying to her.

The next steps: Elle checked the stories of the involved people and wanted to search the house from the top to bottom.

After that, Ellie drove to the hospital where Evan and Nancy Reed were staying. Nancy was sleeping  and Even was telephoning someone with his cell phone. Ellie stopped in front of the door and tried to understand the call between Evan and the other person. The words (which) she heard were “Brian … investors …. excited about the project – to get money together”. ...a few seconds after the  call, Ellie went into the room and introduced herself to the Reeds. Then she told the Reeds a part of her investigation. It was surprising, that Evan accused his son of committing the robbery, because the Reeds wanted that Kevin tried to find a job and they had informed him that they were stopping his monthly allowance. Later, Ellie asked the Reeds to describe the occurrences which happened last night separately?

At the end of the Chapter, Yokota called Ellie and told her that there might be a new motive ….

You can read Martina's entire review of  The Inverted Eagle on Karenne Sylvester's great blog Kalinago English.

Finally, please post a comment. Who do you think  dunit? Click the link to learn how to post a comment.

Integrated English 1 for Physical Education Majors B4 Week 5: Paul Kariya Chapter 3

Hello everyone, Today we are going to talk about Paul Kariya and the 1994 Lillihammer Olympics. As you can see in the video, Kariya was robbed by Sweden's goalie Tommy Salo, and so Canada lost the gold medal match. Unfortunately for Kariya, the 1994 Olympic Games were his only chance to play for Team Canada at the Olympics. Kariya was selected to play for Team Canada at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, but he was cross-checked in the face by American Gary Suter of the Chicago Blackhawks. Kariya got the fourth concussion of his career because of the hit.

OK, let's study some vocabulary. I have added some new words to our flashcards. Please click the link, sign in and study the vocabulary.

Now let's read Chapter 4. Enjoy!