Toyo Gakuen University IE-12: Music. If Everyone Cared by Nickelback

Today we are going to watch a video by Nickelback. Watch the video and do the quiz.

I've posted about this song before.
Click here to see the earlier post: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/y-ou-can-make-difference-video-by.html

November 11th: Remembrance Day, a day of Peace

lest we forget, originally uploaded by striatic.

Every year in November, people in Canada, Britain, America, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries wear poppies. You can see a poppy in the picture above. We wear the poppy to help us remember all the young men and women killed in war. We also wear the poppy to help us think of peace. World War 1 ended on the 11th of November 1919 at 11 o'clock. At 11 o'clock today please stop. Be quiet for one minute. Remember all the people who we have lost. Remember all the sadness of war. Think of the joy of peace. Let's do our best to make peace everywhere.
Here is a beautiful poem. A Canadian soldier in World War 1 wrote the poem. I memorised the poem when I was a school boy. I recited the poem every Remembrance Day. I think it's a beautiful poem. I hope you do too.

In Flanders Fields

by John McRae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Shibaura Institute of Technology English Conversation Intermediate 2 Mid-term Exam Study Guide

The midterm exam is next Saturday. You can prepare by practicing the tasks in the study guide that I sent to you by e-mail.
This video will help you do the second task.
Good luck!

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 7

Hmmm that looks good, originally uploaded by mick62.

Unit 9: Are you ready to order?
Today we will learn useful English we can use in a restaurant.

Here's a funny video about ordering food in a restaurant.

The Smallest Restaurant in the World from mmmarzio on Vimeo.

Now let's practice.

1. Click here: Passport Online.
2. Move your cursor to 9 Are you ready to order
3. Move your cursor to 9a What kind of food is this?
4. Do the task
5. Move your cursor to 9b Find the differences
6. Do the task
7. Click here: Passport Online tests
8. Do the practice test

Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English 2008 Midterm Exam Study Guide

The midterm exam is on Wednesday, the 12th of November 2008. The midterm exam will have 3 parts:
Part 1: Vocabulary.
You must know the following words and phrases from your textbook:

• perplexing
• willing
• expression
• intimate
• inquire about
• transition
• curiosity
• affection
• dialect
• widen one’s horizons

Study the vocabulary. Click this link: TGU IE2 Homestay Midterm Exam 2008 List.

Part2: Multiple choice questions about Units 1 - 6 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!

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12: Music. Yesterday by the Beatles

Here is a video of Paul McCartney singing Yesterday. Watch the video and do the quiz.



Now watch Yesterday with Japanese translation. Click this link: http://jp.yappr.com/welcome/Video.action?videoGuid=EB6EEBCA-C89A-4E64-81F0-CBF9BE3B2D21
Enjoy!!

PAC 7 at JALT 2008 - teachers and students learning together

AsianYouthForumMontage, originally uploaded by mick62.

Last weekend an amazing event happened at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo. The event was PAC 7 at JALT 2008. Students and teachers from Japan, Russia, and all over Asia took part in the event. One of the most impressive parts of the event was the Asian Youth Forum. Students from Asian countries took part in workshops and made presentations. They shared their culture and they shared their ideas.
Toyo Gakuen University teachers took part in the event too including Andy, Sarah, Claire, Cara, and me. Some Toyo Gakuen students volunteers as interns too. I hope more Toyo Gakuen University students will get involved next time.

Asian Youth Forum participants performing their native songs and dances.

Asian Youth Forum participants at the opening ceremony of PAC 7 at JALT 2008.

Yoko, a Toyo Gakuen student, serving as an intern at the conference.

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 6

https://www.pexels.com/search/doctor/

Unit 7: How do you feel.

In today's lesson we will learn some English we can use at the doctor's office.
Here's a video. Click this link: A Visit to the Doctor
Now let's practice. Click this link: Passport Online
Next, let's do a practice test. Click this link: Passport Online Test - Japanese

The midterm test is next Friday, 7 November 2008. You need to study units 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

Remember, if you study and prepare, the test will be easy.

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 - Music Genres. Lesson 4

Image by lastyearsgirl

Today we are going to continue our first project.
First lets listen to a song by a great Jazz musician, Louis Armstrong. Click this link: http://jp.yappr.com/welcome/Video.action?videoGuid=F4E844F5-347D-46B5-8242-E974FBCB911D
Now let's practice some vocabulary. Click this link: Music Vocabulary list 2

Now let's go to our project. Click this link: Voicethread

For information about J-Pop click these links: http://www.diigo.com/annotated/7c882b1d1b8c70f0f21433137f9553c4 and
http://www.diigo.com/annotated/bd28df3af9b4b8dc93bf8e782b0ba1eb
For information on Rock click this link: http://www.diigo.com/annotated/007d114da2d93b2eda4889715aa75605

For information about Hip Hop click here: http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Hip_hop_music_-_Characteristics/id/5126243

For information on Classical music click here: http://www.diigo.com/annotated/69139a95ca420bf398392782f19488cf

For information on R & B click here:

http://www.localdial.com/users/jsyedu133/Soulreview/Understandingpages/musical.htm

You can find pictures on flickr. Click here:

http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=music+genres&l=deriv&ct=0

Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English: Unit 6 - Meeting and talking with people

Today we will learn about meeting people and talking to people.
First, let's review some vocabulary. Please click this link: TGU IE2 Travel List 2.
Now let's join the International Sister Classes Forum. http://edublogs.org/wp-signup.php
Click here to see the Sister Classes Forum: http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/sister-class-forum/
Next let's watch the video and answer the questions in the textbook.

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 5

View Larger Map

Unit 5: Go straight along Seventh Avenue
Today we are going to practice directions. We will practice asking for directions, and listening to directions.
First, let's practice some vocabulary.
Click this link: Travel Unit 5: Directions
Let's play a game. Click this link: http://www.studystack.com/menu-141943

Now let's practice using Passport Online
Finally let's do a practice test.

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 - Music Genres. Lesson 3

Today we will begin our voicethread project. Before we begin our project, let's watch an interview with Ken Hirai. After you watch the interview, take the quiz.


Now let's start our project.
If you haven't decided which genre you want to research, click this link to find lists of music styles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_music_styles
If you have decided which genre that you want to research, find the wikipedia page that you need. Here are some links for popular musical genres: Rock, J-Pop, Traditional Japanese music, Gospel, Classical, Blues, World Music, Hip Hop, Trance, Jazz, R&B.

Look at the picture below. The picture shows you where to click to see a wikipedia article in Japanese.
Here's a link to help you find pictures: http://creativecommons.org/image/
You can also find pictures on flickr. Click here: http://www.flickr.com/
Also, please read this article about copyright: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/著作権
Finally, please read this article about Creative Commons licences: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.1/jp/

Ok, let's get started!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 5: Communicating with your homestay family

In today's lesson we will learn how to communicate with our homestay family. Here are the lesson points:

• Explaining your gift
• Explaining your hometown
• Personal Questions

You will practice explaining your hometown by explaining your hometown to some students in the international Sister Classes Forum.



Let's get started. Click here to open an Edubloggers' account: http://edublogs.org/wp-signup.php
Click here to see the Sister Classes Forum: http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/sister-class-forum/

A Model Language Learner: Ayumi Okada

It's very useful to have a role model. A language learning role model is very useful. Last year, I posted a video interview with Miho on the Daily English Show. Miho is a model language learner. Last April, I wrote about my friend Sanae. Sanae is a model language learner. Today, I'm going to write about another model language learner, Ayumi Okada. Ayumi was a student at Kanto International High School. When Ayumi started at Kanto she couldn't speak English much at all. She was in the Regular course, not the English course. So, she didn't have many English classes, and she didn't have many native English speaking teachers. However, she joined the World School Society. As a member of the World School Society she attended the World School International Forums in Japan and in the United States. She made friends with young people from all over the world.


Ayumi is very very musical. Her dream was to study music in the U.K. So, she asked me to help her prepare for the IELTS exam. I did. She got a great score and she was able enter a college in the U.K. Now she is studying Popular Music and Record Production at Southampton Solent University. She presents a radio programme on SIN Radio. The radio programme is called D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway. You can listen to D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway on the internet. Her radio programme is on Thursdays from three o'clock to five o'clock Greenwich Mean Time, that's 11 pm. to 1 am. Japan Standard Time. Look at the picture below. Click this link: http://www.sinradio.co.uk/site/?function=schedule. Click "Listen".



D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway is very good. I listen to D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway. I hope you will too.

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 Music Genres. Lesson 2

Today we are going to continue working on our first project.
First, let's start by watching a Bob Marley video. Bob Marley was a reggae artist. Click this link to see the video: Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry.

Image by "Uh,Clem..."

Look at the picture below. Bob Marley was born in this house.

Image by David E. Waldren

Here's some information about Reggae:

Reggae was developed in Jamaica in the late sixties. Larry Marshall recorded the first reggae record in 1968. The record was called "Nanny Goat".

Reggae has these musical characteristics:

• 4/4 or Swing time
• Simple chords repeated
• a hypnotic effect (催眠効果)

Some famous reggae artists are: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and UB40

Some famous reggae songs are: "I Shot the Sheriff", The Harder They Come", and "Red Red Wine".

The main musical instruments used in reggae are guitars, bass, drums and sometimes horns.

Next, let's practice some vocabulary. Click this link: Music Vocabulary List 4.
Now, let's review last week's lesson.
Now lets begin our project. Click here: Voicethread.

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 4: Fitting into American Homelife

In today's lesson we will learn about helping around the house, helping yourself, and using the phone. Let's learn some vocabulary first. Click this link TGU IE2 Homestay List 3.
What chores do you do at home? Please leave a comment.

Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 4 - Semester 2 Test 1 Study Guide

Image by estherase

The time has come. You will take your first test of semester 2 in your next class. Here's your task:

Roles: Caller, Receiver
Situation: There's a Hallowe'en Party in the English Lounge
Tasks:
A. Caller

1. Call your new English friend Chrissie.
   
2. When a different person answers your call, ask if you can leave a message for your friend.
3. Leave a message:

a. Say your name
b. Spell your name
c. Say your telephone number
d. Say the day, time, and location of the party

B. Receiver

1. Answer the call
2. Take a message
3. Check the information: caller's name, telephone number, details of the message
   

Click these links to prepare for the test:
Unit 7 - Special Occasions
Taking and leaving a phone message
Pronunciation of "th"

Remember! If you prepare and practice you will get an "A".

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 4

Image by Dash House

Unit 4: Do you have any vacancies.
Today we are going to learn about reserving a room in a hotel. First, let's review some vocabulary and learn some new words too. Click this link:Travel English E-J .
Now let's play some games and practice what we've learned from the textbook. Click here: Passport Online. Next, let's research some hotels. Click here: HotelTravel.com. Download the worksheet below. Do the task. Save the document in your folder.

Choosing a Hotel - Upload a Document to Scribd

Finally, let's do a practice test. Click here: Passport Tests.

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 - Music Genres. Lesson 1

Today we are going to talk about music genres.

First, let's learn some vocabulary. Click the link: Music vocabulary list 2
Now let's watch two slideshows. I made the first slideshow. Toyo Gakuen University students made the next slide show. Make a coment.
My Slideshow about music genres


Toyo Gakuen Students slideshow about music genres



Here's a playlist of African music videos.



Here's a playlist of Jazz videos.



Click here to see a playlist of calyspo and soca videos: http://uk.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7B5A9CDAFBFF6AEA

Now it's your turn to make a slide show about music genres.

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 3: At Dinner

In today's lesson we will learn about different kinds of food. Also, we will learn about good table manners.

Japanese eat a morning meal (朝食), a midday meal (昼食)　and an evening meal (夕食). Many people in other countries eat these meals too. So three meals a day is common everywhere, but sometimes the food is different.

In Canada, many people skip breakfast on weekdays. Some people only have a very light breakfast on weekdays. For example, some people just have coffee. Some people just drink a glass of juice. Some people eat fruit. Some people have a muffin and a coffee.


A muffin and a coffee is, perhaps, the most common weekday breakfast in Canada. Many people eat breakfast on the way to work. They buy a muffin and a coffee at fast-food restaurants including: Tim Hortons, Coffee Time, and Second Cup.


On weekends, sometimes Canadians eat big breakfasts. Click this link to see some popular breakfasts in Canada: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mc_sensei/sets/72157607825427625/

Britain is famous for it's breakfast. What kinds of food are in a full British breakfast? Click the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joits/164373609/


Click this link to learn about breakfast around the world:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast#Typical_breakfasts_by_world_regions

The midday meal in the United States and Canada is called lunch.
Click this link to read the wikipedia article about lunch in English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch
Click this link to read the wikipedia article about lunch in Japanese: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%BC%E9%A3%9F

The picture below is a picture of me having lunch at my aunt's house.

Look at the table. Many Canadians serve each dish in a separate bowl or on a separate plate and put the dishes in the middle of the table. Everyone serves themselves. This is very convenient. You can take the dishes that you like.

You can see the dishes I chose in the picture below. Click the picture. What kind of food is on my plate?

Lunch, originally uploaded by mick62.

Now, let's learn about dinner.
Dinner is the main meal. In Canada, people eat dinner in the evening. In some countries, including Trinidad, people eat dinner in the afternoon. In England, dinner is called tea.

Finally, let's learn about table manners in America and some general etiquette in Canada and the United States.

Bon Appétit