Shibaura Institute of Technology Writing 1B Task 3

The Learning Support Center

Hello everyone!


In today's class we reviewed organising paragraphs using time order and we learned how to organise paragraphs using order of importance. Your homework is to edit and rewrite Task 2. To see some good examples of Task 2 please click this link: Task 2. Below you can see some good examples of Task 3. Please don't forget that you can come to get help from in the Learning Support Center. Enjoy!

Why I decided to come to Shibaura

Hiroaki K.

          There are three reasons that I decided to come to Shibaura. First, Shibaura is the university that is the nearest to my house. Second, Shibaura corresponds to my scholastic attainments. Most importantly, there is a fishing circle at Shibaura. I like this school.

Fumihisa T.


     There are several reasons why I decided to come to Shibaura. First, there is a department of Mechanical Engineering. I wanted to get into this subject by all means because I want to become a plane mechanic. Second, Shibaura is in the metropolitan Tokyo area. Thanks to the location, it is easy to commute. The most important reason is that the rate of employment of Shibaura graduates is high. This is a very important thing. For these reasons, I decided to come to Shibaura.

Keisuke H.

     I chose Shibaura Institute of Technology for these reasons. First of all, The university has a racing team. I like to make things. The racing team doesn't just race cars. We produce an original car. Through this activity, I want to have a great experience and learn about the technology of cars. Second, this campus is built near Tokyo. We can get employment in the center of the capital. Finally, my department has a variety of experimental instruments. We can have a variety of experiences. I think that I made the right choice when I chose this university.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing a Job

Yuki M.

     There are four important things to consider when you choose a job. First, you should consider location. If the company is far, the commute is long. The second thing is the work’s quality. Quality of work is related to willingness to work. In addition, the company’s education environment is very important. I want the company’s education to enhance my skills. The most important thing is salary. Money makes me happy. So I will consider these four things when I choose a job.

Note to teachers reading this post: These paragraphs have been reformulated. If you would like to see the unreformulated versions please contact me.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2B Reading Chapter 3 Review

2010 Abax Some Rights Reserved

Hello everyone!

Today we are going to review Chapter 3. The story is getting exciting. Last week some of you made some comments about the evidence. Click the link to read the comments.

Look at the timeline below. Do you see anything suspicious?

Now let's learn some vocabulary. Click the link:応用英語1-2B Reading Chapter 3. Click "Chapter 3" Write the words and the translations in your Detectives' Notebooks. The look for the English definitions using the Simple English Wiktionary and the Oxford English Dictionary.

Next, let's get into groups and discuss Chapter 3. After that we will do the quiz.
Finally, who do you think is the number one suspect? Leave a comment below.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Unit 5: My Seal Part 4

Hello everyone,
I have read your first drafts, and I looked at your beautiful seals. Wow! Fantastic!
Today we are going to finish Unit 5. We will also write the second draft of Task 1: My Seal.
First: let's review some vocabulary. Click the link: 基礎英吾ステップ4. Do the iKnow lesson two times.
Next, let's practice some typing. Click this link: Qwerty Warriors. Click "Play". Select "medium". Play the game two times.
Now let's review some prepositions (前置詞) of place. Watch the video below.



Now let's play a fun game. Click this link: http://www.tcet.com/eaonline/flashedesl/catsmx.swf
Finally, please write your second draft. Use the "Grammar Error Codes" handout in the lecture folder to help you. You must submit it to me by e-mail by next Tuesday at 6 pm.
Have fun writing!

Shibaura Institute of Technology 英語総合B Global Issues Assignment 1

Hi everyone!
Today's lesson was great. Thanks!
In class today, I gave you your first assignment. You can see some great examples of Assignment 1 by clicking this link: Shibaura Institute of Technology Global Issues Projects: Water Diary.

Here is a link to an example of the water bottle survey:https://app.box.com/shared/mut5bfab8t


Also, today we talked about the One Drop Foundation. Click here to view the One Drop Foundation YouTube Channel

Finally, you can see a video about Michael Pritchard's amazing water bottle by clicking thsi link: 英語総合1B Michael Pritchard's Water Filter.

Don't forget to e-mail your assignments to me by next Monday night at 6 pm.
See you next week!

Shibaura Institute of Technology 英語総合B Global Issues Lesson 3 review and Lesson 4 preview

SIT students writing on the whiteboard, originally uploaded by mick62.

Hello everyone! I hope you are enjoying the long week-end.
Below is a set of photos of the whiteboard notes we made last lesson.

Next lesson we are going to read about reclaimed water. look at the picture below. Why do you think that we shouldn't drink reclaimed water?

See you tomorrow!

Shibaura Institute of Technology Writing 1B: Task 2 My Worst Experience - Best Experience

Downloaded from iStockphoto.com

 Hello!

Yesterday's class was great. Thank you. I'm sorry I was so disorganised at first. It was embarrassing.

Below you can see some examples of paragraphs wriiten by SIT students about their worst experiences. I have edited the paragraphs, so the grammar is correct. Enjoy!

Daichi H's Worst Experience

        When I was 11, I went to a skate park with my family. I enjoyed skating for a short time. Suddenly a child jumped in front of me. I avoided crashing, but I slipped. Unfortunately my leg broke. I suffered great pain. Fifteen minutes later,  I was carried to an ambulance and everyone looked at me with interest. I was very embarrassed. This is the worst experience in my life.

Fumihisa T's Worst Experience

        It was a snowy day when I was 16 years old. On my way to school, I was going to get on a train. In the train, there were many passengers. When I set foot in the train, due to the wet floor, I fell on my backside. Everybody in the train saw me. I was very ashamed and I blushed. I moved to another car. That was my worst experience.

Hiroaki K's Worst Experience

        When I was twenty years old, I went fishing in the river. When I jumped down, I fell in the river. I swam to the opposite bank, and crawled up from the river. I noticed that my trousers were torn. I returned to my house.  Since I was wet and my trousers were torn, I was very ashamed, until I got home.

Saki H's Worst Experience

        The worst experience of my life happened this spring. On the way to school, I was in the train. I tried to sit in a priority seat, because I had a stomachache. There were a lot of people in the train. An elderly lady asked me to give up the seat. I was perplexed because I didn’t know how to answer.  I was stared at by all the people around me. I felt that I was surrounded by people. I gave up the seat.  I gave it to the lady.

Have fun writing about your worst experiences. See you next Saturday!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2B Reading Chapter 2 Review and Chapter 3 preview

Abax 2010 Some rights reserved

Hello!
Today we are going to review Chapter 2 and do the quiz. After that, we will start Chapter 3. First, let's learn some vocabulary. Click this link: 応用英語1-2B Reading.

Leave a comment below. 

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-3B Writing Unit 5 My Seal Part 3

Hello everyone,

Today we are going to start the first draft (第一草稿) of our first writing task: My Seal.

First, let's study some vocabulary. Click this link: 基礎英語ステップ１. Do 2 iKnow lessons.
Now let's practice typing: Click this link: Qwerty Warriors. Click "Play". Select "medium". Play the game two times.

Now open the lecture folder and save the file called  応用英語1-3B Preposition practice. Do the tasks. Then open your textbook to page 48 and do the tasks.
Your homework today is to write the your first draft of Task 1: my Seal.
Enjoy!

Shibaura Institute of Technology Global Issues B: Chapter 2 Reading 1 Review & Reading 2 Preview

Hello!
Look at the images below. You can see the notes we made on the whiteboard last Tuesday.



Our next reading is called How safe is your Water? In the reading we will learn that some people in the United States don't think their tap water is safe. On the other hand, bottled water may not be any safer. To learn the Story of Bottled Water, watch the video below.

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English B: Unit 7 People Lesson 2

Hello everyone,
I hope you had a great week-end. Today we are going to finish Unit 7. We will read profiles of two famous business people: Mercedes Erra and Bill Gates. We will also learn about conflict resolution.

Image downloaded from iStockphoto

Click this link to learn more about Mercedes Erra and Bill Gates: http://1l2.us/bmE . Read the post and do the tasks. After that return to this post.

Finally, let's think. Last week we talked about the kinds of people we like working with. Sometimes conflict happens because we define things differently. For example, how do you define "hard working":

•  働き過ぎ - over working yourself, working for a very long time, working overtime
• よく働く- industrious, efficient
• 頑張る- trying hard, pulling one's weight, doing one's best

Last week my great colleague Phil Brown left a comment on this blog. Mr. Brown is bicultural. His father is English and his mother is Japanese. He told me, "For me, the saying "Never be afraid of a bit of hard work!" (よく働く) is something I grew up with on my English side with 頑張る strong on my Japanese side..."
What do you think. Do Japanese people define "hard work" differently?
Leave a comment below.

Shibaura Institute of Technology Writing 1B: Task 1 My life at Shibaura

Hello!
Your first task is to write a paragraph about your life at Shibaura. Look at the paragraph below. This is an example of a paragraph about life at Shibaura. It's one of my favourites. I love the honesty!

The Last of Remaining Light, originally uploaded by Insight Imaging: John A Ryan Photography (Having a.

My Life at Shibaura by Hiroaki K.

I belong to the handball club and the fishing circle. I like fishing. I go fishing sometimes skipping lectures. When I am not in class I go fishing. I am a student of Applied Chemistry. However, I am not so interested in chemistry. I entered this school because there is a fishing circle. I came to this school to fish.

You can see more examples here: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/shibaura-institute-of-technology.html

Have fun writing. See you next week!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2B Reading Chapter 1 Review and Chapter 2 preview

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to review Chapter 1: The Victim, and take our first quiz.Look at the image below. The image is a mind map (マインドマップ). Mind maps are a great way to take notes. The mind map below is about the scene of the crime.
Open your Detective's notebook to p. 10. Fill in the crime report. Use the information in the mind map to help you.



OK, now let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: 応用英語1-2B Chapter 1.
Now turn to p. 92. Do the Police Briefing. After that we'll take the first quiz.

Now let's do the pre-reading on p. 94.
Finally, for homework please read Chapter 2 and do the tasks.
By the way, you can learn more about learning English with mind maps by reading my friend Chris Foskett's book: マインドマップ英語勉強法.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語１－３B Writing Unit 5: My Seal Part 2

Hello everyone,

Today we continue working on our first writing task: My Seal.

First, let's study some vocabulary. Click this link: 基礎英語ステップ１. Do 2 iKnow lessons.
Now let's practice typing: Click this link: Qwerty Warriors. Click "Play". Select "medium". Play the game two times.

Now let's look at some paragraph's written by Shibaura Institute of Technology students.

Read Akihito's paragraph about his seal and answer the questions below.

Akihito's Seal

My seal has three symbols: a bird, planets, a cross and a die. The bird is in the center. It represents my hope because a bird is free and can go everywhere. I want to be free and go everywhere. Above the bird there are planets. They represent the places where I have not been. I want to travel to various places and find new things. Below the bird there is a die and a cross. They represents my way of thinking about science. They express Albert Einstein’s words, “”God does not throw dice with the universe" [神は宇宙とサイコロを再生されません。]. I really like science and I want to be a person who says aphorisms [格言] like this.

1. What are the three symbols in Akihito's seal?
2. What do the symbols represent?

Next, read Masako's paragraph about her seal. Then, draw Masako's seal.

Masako's Seal

             My seal has four symbols: a softball, a musical note, five stars, and a cat. The five stars are in the center. They represent my home country’s national flag. They represent China. My mother is Chinese, and my father is Japanese. Above the five stars on the right upper side there is a cat. It represents that I like animals, and especially I like cats. I think cats are really cute, and smart. Under the cat there is a musical note. It represents that I am a member of a rock band. I like rock music very much, and I also like heavy metal. Of course, I like J-pops too. Above the stars on the left there is a softball. It represents that I belong to a softball club, and I really like sports.

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English B Unit 7: People

Hello everyone. Today we are going to learn how to describe the kind of people we want to be, and the kind of people we want to work with.
Let's learn some new vocabulary. Click this link: Introduction to Business English Vocabulary Review.

Read the paragraph below. The paragraph is about the kind of people I like to work with.

Image by Lumaxart

I like to work in a team. I like to work with collaborative people. They motivate me. I like to work with creative people. They make me creative too. I like to create. I like to work with hard-working people, because I like to work hard. I like to work with helpful people. Perhaps most importantly, I like to work with loyal people. I like to work with collaborative, creative, hard-working, helpful, and loyal people

How about you? What kind of people do you like to work with. Please leave a comment below.

Class rules made by Toyo Gakuen University and Shibaura Institute of Technology students 2010

As usual, at the beginning of each semester, we make rules for our classes. In the box below you can see some rules made by students at Toyo Gakuen University and Shibaura Institute of Technology in the spring and autumn semesters this year.

Some of my favourites are:

• We should keep a smile on our faces.
• If we forget our textbook we should make a copy of our friend's textbook.
• Our teacher must help us get 100% on the test.
• Mr. Stout must give us a fair grade.
• The teacher must remember to bring whiteboard markers to class.

In some classes at Toyo Gakuen University, we were in a Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) room, and I asked the students to look at the cartoon I posted on this blog on the 13th of September, and then write some rules for the class by leaving a comment. Click the link to see the cartoon and the students' rules in the comment section. In other classes, I printed the cartoon and showed it to the students. I asked them to write some rules. I made it a race actually. After that we went over the rules correcting grammar, and making some changes to the rules. This was part of the negotiation process (折衝［交渉］過程［プロセス］). In the pictures you will see that some rules are crossed out. That's because sometimes singing and dancing are OK in my classes. I did make a mistake. I crossed out the wrong rule in one of the photos. Can you guess which one?

Shibaura Institute of Technology Writing 1B 2010 Semester 2 Lesson 1

Today is the first day of the Writing 1B class at Shibaura Institute of Technology. You can read the course syllabus and see examples of work done by students in previous classes by clicking the links below:

• Writing 1B Syllabus
• Writing 1BParagraphs
• Writing 1B Final Essays

Please let me about yourself. Write a comment below. Watch the video to learn how to post a comment.

応用英語1-2B Reading Lesson 2: Death on U Street Chapter 1

Hello everyone! Today we start reading our exciting story, Death on U Street.

Illustration by Yuji Tachikawa. Abax. Some rights reserved

In today's lesson we will:

• Learn about the real U Street
• Learn some crime story vocabulary
• Read chapter 1:  The Victim
• Learn why there are fingerprints over the text in the story
• Learn how to use the Detective's Notebook
• Answer the Chapter 1 puzzle

OK, let's learn about U Street.
U Street is the main street in a neighbourhood in Washington D.C in the United States. Look at the picture below.

Uploaded to wikipedia by  AgnosticPreachersKid

The U Street neighbourhood is a large African American community. The famous jazz artist Duke Ellington lived there. Look at the picture below. You can see a painting of Duke Ellington on the building.

Uploaded by Audeviver to wikipedia. Some rights reserved

You can learn more about U Street from wikipedia. Click the link: U Street Corridor

OK, now let's learn some vocabulary. Click this link: 応用英語1-2B Reading.

Next, let's open our textbook to page 79. Let's learn about the Detective's Notebook and let's read the story.
Your homework is to finish reading Chapter 1 and do the puzzle. Next week we'll have the first quiz.
Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Unit 5: My Seal Part 1

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to start our first writing task: My Seal. Look at the picture below.  The picture is the Great Seal of Canada. In the middle of the Great Seal of Canada you can see the Queen. The Queen represents Canada. She is a symbol (事物の象徴［を表す記号］) of Canada.

Look at the picture below. You will design a seal and write a paragraph about it.

Writing from Within Intro p.47 ©2004 CUP

First, let's study some vocabulary. Click this link: 基礎英語ステップ１. Do 2 iKnow lessons.
Now let's practice typing: Click this link: Qwerty Warriors. Click "Play". Select "medium". Play the game two times.

Now let's get started. Open your books to page 44.
Finally, please post a comment below. Tell me about your plans for the holiday on tomorrow.

MASH Equinox Tokyo at Toyo Gakuen University

What did you do on the long week-end? I spent my long week-end at Toyo Gakuen University Hongo Campus. I spent 4 days at a fantastic conference at Toyo Gakuen University Hongo campus called MASH Equinox Tokyo 2010.

©MASH Collaboration 2010 http://flic.kr/p/8C6gVt

Other Toyo Gakuen University teachers and students participated in the conference too. Andy Boon was one of the organisers. Daniel Beck did a great pecha kucha (ペチャクチャ) presentation. Hitomi Sakamoto-sensei, Clair Taylor, and Clare Murray attended the conference. Most importantly, Toyo Gakuen University students volunteered to help out at the conference. We were all very proud of them.

©MASH Collaboration 2010 http://flic.kr/p/8C6DSX

Clair Taylor and Scott Thornbury

Clair Taylor and Michael Stout having a laugh at MASH Equinox 2010

©MASH Collaboration 2010 http://flic.kr/p/8C6DsH

I was also delighted to see my friend Jennifer Ypantidis give a great presentation. We worked together at Kanto International High School.

There will be many more conferences at Toyo Gakuen University this year. Why don't you volunteer to help out at a conference? If you volunteer at a conference you will meet many kind and interesting people and you will have a great chance to practice speaking English.

応用英語1-2B Reading Lesson 1: Introduction to the course

Hello everyone!
Today is an introduction to English 1-2B Intensive Reading. In this lesson you will learn how to:

• subscribe to this blog
• make a blog comment
• register for and use smart.fm - an online vocabulary study site.
• make a reading plan

We will use this blog in every lesson. Also, you can see blog posts from last semester. Please click this link:  応用英語I-2.

Next, let's look at our textbook. Please look at the image below.

Front cover of Whodunit by Adam Gray and Marcos Benevides. Published by Abax. Some rights reserved.

There are two detective stories in Whodunit. Last semester we read the first story, The Inverted Eagle. Click the link to read some reviews of  The Inverted Eagle, and messages from the writers, Adam Gray and Marcos Benevides. Scroll down to the comments section. Read the comments and answer the questions below.

1. How many students liked the story? 
2. How many students disliked the story? 
3. What did Mr. Benevides say about the second story, Death on U Street?
4. What did Mr. Gray say about the second story, Death on U Street?

 This semester, we will read  the second story, called Death on U Street. 

Now let's learn some useful vocabulary for reading detective stories. First, please click this link: smart.fm signup. Next please click the link: 応用英語1-2B Reading.

Finally, please click this link: Class Rules. Read the post. Post a comment.
Your homework is to finish your reading plan.
See you next week!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Lesson 1

Hello everybody! Welcome to the first 応用英語I-3B Writing class. Today we will learn:

* How to subscribe to this blog
* How to register for smart.fm
* How to use smart.fm
* How to write a blog post

You can see the textbook in the picture below. Our textbook was written by two great teachers called Curtis Kelly and Arlen Gargagliano. You can read a message from Curtis and Arlen. Look for the message near the end of the comments.

© 2004 CUP

Now look below. This is our course outline.




You must type your writing tasks in this class. Let's practice typing with a fun game called Qwerty Warriors

You must also review vocabulary, and learn new vocabulary too. You can do this with online flashcards. Let's go to an online flashcard website called smart.fm. Click this link: https://smart.fm/signup
Next, please click this link: Class Rules. Read the post. Post a comment.

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

My Summer Vacation

Hi everyone!
I made a video about my summer vacation.
Watch the video. Make a list of things you see in the video. Write at least 12 things.
Enjoy!

Class Rules

By mickstout | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

Hi everyone. Please look at the cartoon. This class needs some rules. Make a list of rules for the students and the teacher. You can post them as a comment below.
You can see some examples written by other students. Click this link: Class Rules
I'll post the rules you make next week.
Enjoy!!

Introduction to Business English 1B ビジネス英語入門 B Introductory Lesson

Hello everyone! Today is the first day of semester two, and this is my first class!!

Welcome to Introduction to Business English B.
Today we are going to learn about the course. We will read the course outline, and we will watch a video too. We will learn how to greet people in business situations, and we will look at the textbook.

This lesson will be review for students who took Introduction to Business English A.

OK, let's start.

Please click this link: Exchanging business cards. Watch the video and do the quiz.

Now let's learn some vocabulary. Please click this link: TYG Introduction to Business Vocabulary.

Next, please look at the image below. This is your textbook.You can buy the textbook next lesson.

Market Leader Elementary © 2007

Finally, please look below. You can see the course outline. Please download the course outline and save it to your own folder.
Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English B Course Outline


That's all. I hope you decide to take this class. Business English is becoming very important for getting a job in Japan. Two famous Japanese companies, Uniqlo and Rakuten are making English the official company language. I think many more Japanese companies will do the same. You can read about it here:楽天：英語を１２年中に社内公用語化 English will be the official language of Rakuten!

Please leave a comment. Your homework is to send me an e-mail. I hope to see you next week.

Cool tools for back to school

Well school starts again on Monday! So, let's review some cool tools for making cartoons and animated videos. We will be using these tools in Semester 2.

First, look at the cartoon below. I made it with ToonDoon.

By mickstout | View this Toon at ToonDoo | Create your own Toon

You can see more of my posts about comics. Click this link: Comics

Next, look at the video below. I made this video using GoAnimate.



Finally, look at the video below. The video below was made by a Toyo Gakuen University student called Marina K.



See you on Monday!

iNudge: A cool tool for making your own music

Hello everyone,
I just discovered a really cool tool for making music. It's called iNudge. My friend Christien Gagnier told me about it. Christien is a teacher at St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Christien and I went to the University of Windsor together.

Click the play button in the music player below. Listen to the tune (歌) I composed (作曲した). It was easy. I just played. I didn't know what my song would sound like until I was finished! Try it! Tell me what you think. Please post a comment below.

Kanto International High School Study Abroad Class of 2008 Reunion

Kanto International High School Study Abroad Class of 2008 Reunion, originally uploaded by mick62.


Last night was a very special night. Last night I met some of my students from the Kanto International High School Study Abroad Class of 2008. We met at Gonpachi. Gonpachi is famous. Gonpachi was in the Quentin Tarantino movie Kill Bill. It was so great to see them again. They are all adults now! Amazing! All of them speak English so well now too. I'm so proud of them. I was delighted to learn that some of them are studying linguistics now, and at least one wants to become a language teacher - a Japanese language teacher, but a language teacher none the less! Shall I say it again? I'M SO PROUD OF THEM. They are my reward!!! 
I'm also very grateful that we are still connected through Facebook and Twitter. When I was a student we didn't have social networks, so I've lost touch with most of my teachers and professors, and while I was in school and university we never developed learning networks. I'm much luckier than my teachers and professors were.
Some of the fantastic work of the students in this class and the students in the other Kanto International High School Study Abroad classes can be seen by clicking this link: Kanto International H.S. Projects. 
If you are a teacher or student with a similar experience, please share. Please post a comment below.

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!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-3A Writing Lesson 11 An ideal Partner

Hey there!
Today we prepare for our next task. Our next task is a paragraph describing our ideal partner. First, let's learn some new words. Click this link: 応用英語1-3A Writing.

Now let's look at a paragraph written by a student at Shibaura Institute of Technology.

My Ideal Partner by Yuri K.

Adapted from an image uploaded to Flickr by Mark Sebastian

               What kind of partner do I want? First, I want a partner who likes traveling because I want to go to a lot of places around the world with my partner. I like traveling very much. I’d like to go to Italy someday. I sometimes go to Tokyo to see the architecture. It is a very interesting time for me. Second, I would like a partner who likes animals because I like animals very much. I want to have a dog in the future. I think a person who likes animals is kind person. Third, I would like a partner who likes eating because I like cooking very much. I want to cook a lot of dishes for him. When I cook, if he doesn't eat my dishes, I will feel very sad.

I think Yuri's paragraph is very good. I think you can write a good paragraph too.

Your first draft is due next Tuesday, 7 July 2010, at 6 pm;

Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2A Reading. The Inverted Eagle Chapter 6 Review

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to review Chapter 6. First, let's study some vocabulary. Please click this link: 応用英語1-2A Reading. Do the iKnow lesson, Dictation lesson, and play the Brain Speed game. After that, review your detective's notebook. Add new words from chapter 6.

Now let's look at our suspects mindmap. I have added the final suspect, Nancy Reed. Click the image below to make it bigger. Nancy Reed is now red. Her lies and motives are in large bold letters. Add the information to your detective's notebook.

The Suspect #3

Now let's review Martina R's summary of The Inverted Eagle on Kalingo English. Now write your final report in your detective's notebook.
Next week I'll give you a study guide for the final exam.
Finally, let's read a message from Marcos Benevides, one of the authors of Whodunit.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-3A Writing Students make fotobabbles about their special places

Today students in the writing class at Toyo Gakuen University made fotobabbles about their special places.

Image from fotobable facebook page.

Fotobabble is a web 2.0 application that, "enables you to create Talking Photos in just three clicks".
At the beginning of the class I returned the students second drafts of their "My Special Place" task. Like the first drafts, I error coded the second drafts. I didn't require the students to correct their second drafts before they recorded a fotobabble, and some students simply read and recorded their second drafts without any editing, but others were keen to edit. Perhaps this fotobabble task motivated some students to edit again.
Links to the students' fotobabbles are below. I hope you will view some of them and leave a comment for my students. Enjoy!


Akira's Special Place, Manae's Special Place, Kaname's Special Place, Aya Y.'s Special Place, Misato's Special Place, Koutarou's Special Place, Ryuhei's Special Place, Chen's Special Place, Reika's Special Place, Kohei's Special Place, Kousuke's Special Place, Kousei's Special Place,Tatsuya's Special Place, Atsuko's Special Place, Ai's Special Place, Aya S.'s Special Place. Rie's Special Place,

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2A Reading Lesson 10 Chapter 5 Review and Chapter 6

Hello everyone!
Today we will do a quick review of Chapter 5 then we'll discuss Chapter 6. I have added two new suspects to our mindmap. Please look at the image below. The new suspects are in red.

The Suspects #2

Now look at your comments from last lesson. Click this link: Lesson 9. Who do the most people think did the crime?

OK, now lets review some vocabulary. Click this link: 応用英語1-2A Reading Vocabulary List.

Finally, what did you think of the story. Please write a letter to Marcus Benevides and Adam Gray telling them what you thought of the story. Post your letter as a comment below.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-3A Writing Task 2: My Special Place Final Draft

Hi everyone!
Today we are going to do the last draft of our paragraph about a special place. Then we are going to record the paragraph using Fotobabble. Look at the photo below. Click the play button.



OK,next, let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: 基礎英語ステップ２.

Now look at your first draft. Use your grammar error code handout. Correct your mistakes and write your final draft. You must submit your final draft by next Tuesday 22 June 2010. Next week you will make your own Fotobabble.

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English 1A Lesson 9: Unit 6 and Sales Presentation Project Introduction

Hi everyone!
Today we will start Unit 6: Sales. Then we will begin our Sales Presentation Project.Look at the picture below. What mistakes has the presenter made?

"Fake it till you make it" uploaded to Flickr by HikingArtist.com on 4 Nov 2008

Now let's click this link to see more about our Sales Presentation Project.
The presentations will be on the 28th of June. Have fun!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2A Reading Lesson 9. Chapter 4 Review and Chapter 5

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to review Chapter 4, and do the quiz. Then we are going to start Chapter 5. Look at the image below. The image is another mindmap. The mindmap shows the suspects in the case so far. Click the image to make it bigger. Now look at your comments on last lessons' post. Were you right?

Inverted Eagle Suspects Chapters 1-4. Made using mindmeister

Now, take out your detective's notebook. Look at the mindmap. make notes about chapter 4.
Next, let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: 応用英語1-2A Reading Vocabulary List. Do the iKnow lesson.
After we review vocabulary, we will discuss Chapter 5.
Finally, post a comment. Do you have a hunch? Who commited the crime. Write your answer as a comment below.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-3A Writing Lesson 8 Unit 2 special place

Hi there!
Today we are going to continue working on our second task, My Special Place. First, please look at the image below. The image shows the correct format for submitting your writing tasks to me. You should type your tasks using Microsoft Word, and you should send them to me as an attachment (メールの添付｛てんぷ｝ファイル). This image is also on the style sheet in the lecture folder. Please open the lecture folder and save the file called "style sheet" to your own folder.

Image by Sarah Louisa Birchley, Clair Taylor and Michael Stout

OK, let's do some more vocabulary practice. Please click this link: 基礎英語ステップ２.
Now let's edit our first draft. Your 2nd draft is due next Wednesday. Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English 1A Lesson 8: Unit 4: Travel and Midterm Exam Study Guide

Hi everyone,
Today we are going to learn about travel. We are going to practice listening for information, making bookings, and checking arrangements. First, please take a look at the picture below. You can see some funny English signs while travelling everywhere in the world. The picture below was taken in Budapest, Hungary. There are three mistakes, one is a grammar mistake and the other two mistakes are vocabulary usage (単語の用法) mistakes. Can you find the mistakes?

"Out of Work" uploaded to Flickr by tm-tm on 20 September 2009

OK, now let's learn some vocabulary. Please click this link: TYG 応用英語 Travel English Vocabulary List.
Now let's do the tasks in the textbook. If you finish a task quickly, you can go on to the next task, or you can do some independent learning using the links below:

• More vocabulary flashcards and games on quizlet: Travel English E-J
• Speaking practice on English Central: Hotels: Checking in, and Hotels: Guest services.

Finally, the midterm exam is next class: 14th June. Please use the study guide below to help you prepare for the midterm exam.

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 応用英語1-2A Reading Lesson 8. Chapter 4: The Suspect

Whodunit CC 1.0 Some rights reserved

Hello everyone!
Well our story is getting very exciting. In this chapter Ellie finally has a suspect.
Before we check the Chapter 4 puzzle, let's learn some vocabulary. Please click the link: 応用英語１－２Ａ Reading. Next, click "Drill Beta".
After you study the vocabulary review Chapter 4 with your team. Write your answers to the Chapter 5 pre-reading on p. 55 as a comment below.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-3A Writing Lesson 7 Unit 2 My Special place

A special place, originally uploaded by mick62.

Hey there!

Today we are going to start the first draft of our second task: My Special Place.
First, let's study some vocabulary. Click this link: 基礎英語　ステップ1

Now let's go to Flickr. Click here: Flickr Sign in.
Comment on your classmates' photos of their special places. Ask the questions on p. 18 of your textbook. Answer your classmates' questions.

Ok now write your first draft. Please e-mail it to me by the 7th of June.
Enjoy!