Smells like Togaku Spirit: The English Lounge Jam at Toyo Gakuen University

Every year the students and teachers at Toyo Gakuen University have a jam session in the English Lounge. This year was the best. Here are some pictures from the jam session.

The jam session began with Togaku's Gospel Group. They were very enthusiastic!

I sang a Canadian classic by Stompin' Tom Connors, The Good Old Hockey Game, with Mr. Hardy.

Mr. Wilgus and Eleanor also joined the fun.

Mr. Hardy, Eleanor and Hidenori sang a song together. Mr. Hardy often made Eleanor smile.

Takamasa sang a Nirvana song with Mr. Hardy. He sang very well. Mr. Hardy sang very passionately.

Takamasa also played bass.

Chrissie, an Aston University student from Leeds, England, also joined the fun. She sang and played guitar.


Some other students participated in the jam session. I have not posted their pictures because they have not given me permission to do so.
The jam session was great. Please leave a comment telling me what you thought of the jam session.
ROCK ON!

Toyo Gakuen University Travel English Unit 14: Could you tell me when we're there please?

Today we are going to learn about using public transportation. Little by little, technology is making it easier to use public transportation. In many countries, including Japan, Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, the stops are announced in English and other languages. Here's video of written and audio announcements on Toronto's street cars.

OK, let's start the lesson now. Click here: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/toyo-gakuen-university-interest-based_21.html

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English 2009 Mid-term Exam Study Guide

The midterm exam is on Wednesday, the 17th of June 2009. The midterm exam will have 3 parts:
Part 1: Vocabulary.
Click this link: TGU IE2 Homestay Midterm Exam 2008 List. and do the lessons on smart.fm

Part2: Multiple choice questions about Units 1 - 4 in your textbook.

Part3: 2 short paragraph answer type questions. You will be asked to write one or two paragraphs for each question. Your answer should be between 50 words and 100 words.
Here are the questions:

*Describe a homestay trip that you would like to do in the future. Include the following points:

• Where you would like to do a homestay.
• Why you want to do a homestay.
• How you would prepare for the homestay.
• The type of homestay family you would like. For example: an older couple with no children, or a young couple with young children.
• What you would like to do during the homestay.

*Describe two problems that you think you might have during a homestay. Why do you think you will have these problems? What will you do in order to overcome these problems?

Study hard and good luck!

Memories of JALT CALL 2009 at Toyo Gakuen University

Here are some pictures from the 2009 JALT CALL conference at Toyo Gakuen University Hongo campus. The conference was a great success thanks to the hard work of Andy, Sarah, Clair, and some Toyo Gakuen student volunteers. Everyone was very impressed by Toyo Gakuen. One teacher said that he'd like to teach at Toyo Gakuen! Enjoy!

 This photo was taken by Daniel Beck. Mr. Beck is an ELL teacher and he is studying at Temple University Japan now. Temple University Japan is my alma mater. I have blurred the faces of the students in order to protect their privacy.

JALT CALL 2009 at Toyo Gakuen University Hongo Campus

This year the Japan Association of Language Teaching (全国語学教育学会) Computer Assisted Language Learning Special Interest Group (CALL コンピューター支援言語学習) conference is at Toyo Gakuen University's Hongo campus in Tokyo. Many Toyo Gakuen teachers and students are working at the conference this year. I am making a presentation. I will present some projects done by my students and I at the Nagareyama campus. You can see my presentation below.




I will post pictures and video from the conference soon. I hope to see you there.

Toyo Gakuen University Travel English Unit 12 - What would you like to drink?

Steamwhistle Beer, originally uploaded by mick62.

Today we are going to learn useful English for talking in pubs and at parties.
First, let's review last lesson. Click this link: Passport Online Activities.

Now let's do a webquest. Do a Google search. What is the legal drinking age is these countries: The U.K., The United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Cambodia.

Now let's learn about "small talk". Small talk is very important at the pub or at a party.

Let's watch a video.

Now let's review by doing a practice test, and reviewing vocabulary.
Thanks for a great lesson!

Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 2 - Reading Midterm Exam Study Guide Semester 1 2009

 

Originally uploaded to Flickr by v.max1978

Your mid-term exam will by next Friday 12 June 2009. Here's a study guide to help you prepare for the exam.

The exam will cover units 1-4: pp. 6, 7, 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31. The exam will have questions testing:

• Reading skills
• Identifying the topic (pp. 6, 7)
• Making comparisons (pp.15, 15)
• Making inferences (pp. 22, 23)
• Choosing the best summary (pp. 30, 31)
• Reading for details
• Scanning - this will be a one-minute scanning task. Use the handouts you got in class to practice.
  
• Vocabulary
• 基礎英語 2 Pre-Intermediate Vocabulary List  
• Vocabulary Flashcards
  
• Grammar
• Verb forms (p. 21)
  
• Making negatives (p. 24)
  
• Word families (nouns, verbs and adjectives, p. 24)

Here are some more webpages to help you prepare:

• Old Traditions on Nowy Świat Street
• James Bond
• Semester One Review on Sarah's Blog

Study hard, Enjoy learning and Good Luck!!

Toyo Gakuen University: Introduction to Business English 1A Unit 4 and Mid-term Exam Study Guide

Today we start Unit 4: Travel and revise for the mid-term exam. The mid-term exam is next Thursday 11 June 2009.

Lesson Goals

To be able to:

• Use can and can't correctly
• Demonstrate understanding of a reading about a business hotel.
• Listen to telephone conversations and public announcements for specific information
• Make a booking and confirm it

Part 1: Vocabulary

• Click the link:Introduction to Business English A Vocabulary
• Log in. Click iKnow. Do the lesson

Part 2: Revision pp. 31-33
Part 3: Unit 4 - Travel pp. 34-39
Part 4: Making a booking

• Click this link: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/toyo-gakuen-university-interest-based_09.html Do the tasks.

Mid-term Exam Study Guide

The exam covers Units 1,2,3, and 4, pp. 6-40 (テストの範囲は ユニト1-4　です).  The exam will include listening, reading and writing.

• Do Unit 4 on the self-study CD ROM
• Do the iKnow, Dictation and Brain Speed lessons on smart.fm 
• Study the writing file on p.130

Good Luck!!!

Toyo Gakuen University Travel English Mid-term Exam

 

http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=test&sourceid=Mozilla-search#

Today is the midterm exam. Click this link: Passport Online Tests.
Choose units 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. Do the test. When you are finished print your result. Give the first page to me. If you finish early, do an iKnow vocabulary lesson on Smart.fm.
After the test we will start our next unit. Click this link: Unit 9 - Are you ready to order?
Good Luck!

Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 2 – Reading Unit 4: The best shopping street in the world

Today's topic is shopping. There are some very famous shopping districts in the world. Look at the map below. Find these places: Fifth Avenue, Oxford Street, the Champs Elysee, and Pedder Street. Where are these streets?

View Shopping Districts in a larger map

Look at the image below. It is a close-up of the Google satellite image of Nowy Swiat, the most popular shopping street in the world.

Find Novy Swiat on the map above.

Now study these flashcards for Unit 4

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

Ok, now turn to p. 30 in your textbook.
To learn more about the best shopping streets in the world click this link:
Fleshman English Reading Blog Unit 4.
Enjoy!!

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English 1A Lesson 5

Today we are going to do the Unit 3 case study. First, let's watch a video.
Watch the video and answer the questions below:

1. What problems did John have on his holiday?
2. Did the travel agent give John a refund. Why/why not?
3. Do you think John will use this travel agent again? Why/why not?

Now let's review some vocabulary. Click TYG Introduction to Business English A Vocabulary
Here are some more useful phrases. Click the links to see the Japanese translations and some examples.

• I was wondering if...
• I'm sorry to hear that...
• I'm afraid it's out of my hands (It can't be helped)

Now let's do the case study. Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 3: Make yourself at home

Lesson Goals

To be able to:

• Say what kind of house you like
• Describe your house or apartment
• Learn about homes in America and other countries
• Use new vocabulary studied in the unit
  

Part 1: Thinking about the topic

Look at the pictures. Which house do you like? Why do you like it?

 

  

  

 

Match the house with the country.   

a. Denmark ­­_____	b. China _____	c. South Africa _____
d. England ______	e. Canada _____	f. U.S.A. _____

Part 2: Vocabulary

• Click the link: TYG Homestay English Vocabulary List.  
• Click iKnow. Do the lesson.

Part 3: Speaking

• Do the speaking tasks on p.10 of Homestay Adventures.
  

Toyo Gakuen University Travel English. Unit 7: A Visit to the Doctor

THE DOCTOR MAKES A HOUSE CALL in OLD JAPAN, originally uploaded by Okinawa Soba.

Today we are going to learn some useful English that we can use at the doctor's office. Click here to see the lesson.

Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 2 – Reading Unit 3: The Man with the Golden Gun Lesson 2 webquest

James Bond gun symbol logo copyright 1962 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation, uploaded to wikipedia by David Liuzzo

Today we are going to start our lesson with a webquest. A webquest is an internet search. In a webquest you search for information using keywords. Let’s try.

Who was the first “James Bond” actor?
To find the answer type these keywords into Google: first actor James Bond. Now press enter. Look at the second link. You see, "... Barry Nelson, who was the first actor to play James Bond on-screen". Click the link. Now you see an article about the first actor to play James Bond. Look at the picture below.

First 'James Bond' actor dies at 89 via kwout

Ok, let's start the webquest. Find the answers to these questions:

1. When was The Man with the Golden Gun released as a movie?
   
2. Who starred as James Bond in the Man with the Golden Gun?
3. What actress played Goodnight?
4. What actor played Scaramanga?

Ok now let's review last week's lesson. Click this link: Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 2 - Reading Unit 3 The Man with the Golden Gun.


Now let's learn suffixes used to form nouns, verbs and adjectives. Do exercise 1 and 2 on p. 24 in your textbook.  Next, let's learn about making negatives. Do excercise 3 on p. 24.
Now click this link: http://www.oup.com/elt/global/products/americanheadway/ahy_level2_home/
Choose Unit 3 Word Search.
Let's finish the lesson with silent reading or vocabulary study.
Thanks for a great lesson.

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English 1A Lesson 4

Today we start Unit 3: Problems.

Lesson Goals

To be able to:

• Show understanding of adjectives, and use adjectives correctly
• Demonstrate understanding of two readings about work place problem by answering matching problems questions and ordering prblems from biggest to smallest.
• Listen to a telephone conversation and identify the product and the problem.
• Listen to a problem and suggest a solution.

Part 1: Vocabulary

• Click the link:Introduction to Business English A Vocabulary
• Log in. Click iKnow. Do the lesson

Part 2: Thinking about the topic

• Work with your partner.
• Make a list of 5 problems you have had with products and services that you have bought (製品やサービスを購入している問題)
• Make a list of 5 problems that you have at school.
• Make a list of 5 problems that Japanese company employees have.
• Click the link: iVillage - Problems at work? . Look at the problems in the article. Circle the problems that are on your lists. Add the problems that are not on your lists.

Part 3: Listening to telephone conversations

• Market Leader p. 22. Listen to the telephone calls. Do the task.
• Click the link: Customer Complaint Department
• Watch the video. Talk with your partner. Do you think the customer will get satisfaction?

Part 4: Speaking

• Turn to p. 31. Record the telephone conversations.
  

Homework

• Vocabulary study
• CD ROM Unit 3
  

Thanks for a great lesson.

Toyo Gakuen University Travel English Unit 5: Go Straight along Seventh Avenue.

Today we are going to learn how to give and receive directions.
First, click this link: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/toyo-gakuen-university-interest-based_24.html
Play the game. Learn the vocabulary.
Then click the link for Passport on line. Go the tasks.
Finally, do a practice test.

Homework: Look at the map above. Write directions from JR Minami Nagareyama station to Toyo Gakuen University.

Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 2 – Reading Unit 3: The Man with the Golden Gun

Lesson Goals:

To be able to:

• Score 100% on a quiz about Unit 2
• Write a comment on the Freshman English Reading Blog
• Write summary and a recommendation about a graded reader
• Show understanding of a story written in the past tense (過去形)
• Make inferences, read between the lines.

Part 1: Unit 2 Quiz (5 minutes)

If you finish the quiz early, please read your graded reader.

Part 2: Freshman English Reading Blog

• Click the link above
• Read Sarah’s reading review
• Scroll down. Read a reading review by a student
• Write a reading review in the Comment box at the bottom of the page

Part 3: Vocabulary

• Click this link: http://quizlet.com/321740/ah2-unit-3-flash-cards/
• Study the flashcards

Part 4: Reading – The Man with the Golden Gun pp. 22-23

Before you read:

• Click the link: http://fereading.edublogs.org/unit-three/
• Watch the video.
• Talk about the video. Ask your partner these questions:
  1. Have you seen The Man with the Golden Gun?
  2. Do you like James Bond?
  3. Have you seen any other Bond movies? If yes, which Bond movies?
• Turn to p.22. Look at the pictures. Listen to the beginning of the story. Answer the questions.

While you read

• Scan the story. Underline all the words you don’t know. Look up the words in your dictionary.
• Read the story again. Answer the questions.

After you read

• Look at the pictures again. Tell the story to your partner in your
  own words.

Homework

• Click 基礎英語2 Pre-Intermediate Vocabulary List
• Log in to smart.fm
• Do the iKnow lesson, Dictation and BrainSpeed

Thanks for a great class!!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 2: First Day in America

Lesson Goals

• Describe people
• Talk about your family
• Learn about American families
• Learn about communicating with your host family

Part 1: Unit 1 Review

• Do the short quiz
  
  

Part 2: Vocabulary

• Click the link: TYG Homestay Vocabulary List.
• Click “iKnow”. Do the lesson.
• Click “Brain Speed”. Play the game.

Part 3: Choosing a host family

• Look at the picture. This is the Anderson family. The Anderson family is an American Family.
  

 Flickr photo originally uploaded by Mwesigwa

• Open your textbook, Homestay Adventures to p.6. Which host family would you choose?
• List 5 things you like about YOUR family.
• List 5 things you dislike about YOUR family

Part 4: Listening Textbook - p.7

• Listen to the conversation. Look at the pictures. Which picture is Ayako’s
  
  host family?

Part 5: Describing your family – Textbook p.8

• Practice the conversation on p.8
• What is the “Homestay Tip” at the bottom of p. 8?

Part 6: Learning about American Families

• Watch the DVD. Answer the questions on p.9

Part 7: Communicating with your host family

• Watch the video and answer the questions on your worksheet.

Homework

• Search the internet for pictures of your hometown. Save the pictures on to a USB flash drive. Bring your flash drive to next class.
  

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English 1A Lesson 3

Lesson Goals

To be able to:

• Identify common word partnerships (collocations)
• Demonstrate understanding of two readings about daily routines by answering true/false questions and filling in blanks in a passage.
• Fill in a timetable
• Describe your daily routine

Part 1: Unit 1 Review

• Review p. 9 in your textbook. Look at the picture. Fill in the table below

Flickr photo originally uploaded by World Resources Institute Staff

Name:	JeffreyImmelt
Age:
Family:
Job:
Hobbies:
Wake-up time:
First activity of the day

Part 2: Vocabulary

• Click this link: TYG Introduction to Business English Vocabulary List 1
• Click “iKnow”. Do the lesson
• Click “Write a Journal”. Write about the iKnow lesson you did today.
• Turn to p.14 in your textbook. Do “Starting up” A-D

Part 3: Reading 1

Before you read

• List 5 things you know about the man in the picture

• Do A on p.16

While you read

• Do B-E on p.16

After you read

• Tell your partner about a typical day in your life. Use the model below to help you.

I get up at ­_____. I come to school at _____. After school, I _____. I get home at_____. After I get home I _____. I go to sleep at_____.

Part 4: Reading 2

Before you read

• List 5 things you know about the man in the picture

While you read

• Do A & B on p.17

After you read

• Click comment below. Write a paragraph about yourself. Describe your daily routine

Part 5: Homework

• Read p.21. Prepare for the case study
• Do Unit 2 on your self-study CD ROM.

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!