Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-2B Chapter 5 Review and Chapter 6 Preview

Hello everyone,
Recently Marcos Benevides and Adam Grey, the writers of our textbook, Whodunit,  won a very big award. They won the 2010 HRH the Duke of Edinburgh English Speaking Union Book Award. In the photo below you can see Marcos and Adam with Prince Philip. Marcos is the man on the far left. Marcos is standing next to Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. Standing on the other side of Prince Philip is Adam. On the far right is Alastair Graham-Marr. Alastair is one of the owners of Abax, the company that publishes Whodunit.

I think it's wonderful that our textbook has won an award. Congratulations Marcos, Adam and Abax!

Photo by Roland Kemp

Ok, so...today we are going to review Chapter 5 and preview Chapter 6. We are almost at the end. Are you excited?
Let's learn some vocabulary. Please click this link: 応用英吾1-2B Reading Vocabulary.

In Chapter 6 we learn who is guilty of the murder. Who do you think did it now? have you changed your mind? Please leave a comment.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Unit 8: Movie Review Part 2

Hello everyone! I hope you had a great holiday yesterday. Today we will continue working on our movie review.

First make a list of words you'd use to rate a movie (映画の格付けをする). After that, watch the video below. Circle the words on your list that you can hear.



Now, let's review some vocabulary. Please click this link: 基礎英吾ステップ１

Now let's practice typing. Let's practice typing with some new games. Please click the links and play Alpha Attack and Air Typer
 

Now let's turn to page 75 in our textbook.
Enjoy!

I Can

American president Obama famously said, "Yes we can", but so many people think that they can't. These people need to change. The world is changing, and that is good. Change is good. Everyone can change. As the Scottish comedian Billy Connolly said, "You can change on your death bed".

A great teacher in India called Kiren Bir Sethi has taught children that they can change the world. Please watch her video. You can watch with subtitles. Look at the screencast to see how to do it.

Now click this link to watch the video:

キラン ビア セイシ: 子どもたちに “I can” と教え

Another great teacher in Nagoya called Chuck Sandy saw Kiren Bir Sethi's video and he was inspired. He has brought her idea to Japan. He is working to help young people in Japan change the world. He is working to help people change the world with an organisation called Design for Change Japan.

Today, I will go to Nagoya. I will go to Nagoya for a big teachers' conference. It's the JALT conference. At the conference, I will meet Kiren Beth Sethi and Chuck Sandy and many other great people at a Design for Change event. One of Chuck's students recorded a song for the event. You can listen to the song.  Please watch the video below.

See you next Wednesday. I can't wait to tell you about all the things I learned at the JALT conference.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Unit 8: Movie Review Part 1

Hello everyone,
Today we are going to start a new task. Today we will learn how to write a movie review (映画批評記事). After we finish writing the review, we will make a video. Look at the videos below. They were made by students at Shibaura Institute of Technology students.

Watch the videos. What are the names of the movies?

Next, look at the words below:
science fiction, crazy, scary, exciting, beautiful, wonderful, complicated, inscrutable, love story, great, weird, , cool, violent, interesting, comical, moving, horror, grotesque.

How do you say these words in Japanese? Click this link: SPACE ALC. Find the translation.
After that, watch and listen to the movie reviews. match the words with the reviews.

Example (例) science fiction - Resident Evil



First, let's review some vocabulary. Please click this link: 基礎英吾ステップ１

Now let's practice typing. Let's practice typing with some new games. Please click the links and play Alpha Attack and Air Typer
 

Next, let's get started. Please turn to page 73 in your textbook.

Finally, please leave a comment. What's your favourite movie? Why is it your favourite?

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English B Unit 9: Companies Continued and Midterm Study Guide

Self study at study, originally uploaded by Hermés.

Hello everyone!
Today we going to continue talking about companies. We will also prepare for the Midterm Exam. The Midterm Exam is on Monday the 29th of  November. The exam covers units 7, 8, and 9 (pp. 62-87). The exam includes listening, reading, and writing. The study guide is below.

• Part 1: Listening - Listen to a meeting and answer comprehension questions.
• Part 2: Vocabulary - Please study our TYG Introduction to Business English Vocabulary List 2.
• Part 3: Grammar - Past simple negatives, question forms, comparatives and superlatives, present continuous
• Part 4: Skills - negotiations, discussions, dealing with problems
• Part 5: Reading and Writing - read a profile of a successful business person, answer comprehension questions and write a short description of the person.

The Midterm exam will be 30 minutes long. After that we will start the presentation project.

Happy studies!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2B Reading Chapter 4 Review and Chapter 5 Preview

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to review Chapter 4 and preview Chapter 5. First, let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: 応用英語1-2B Reading. Do the iKnow lesson twice.

In Chapter 5, we learn about a new suspect. Look at the mind map below. Who is the new suspect?

Now let's read chapter 5. Enjoy!

The 11th Day of the 11th month: a Day of Peace

Today is a special day. Today is Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day is a day of peace celebrated in Commonwealth countries including Canada and the United Kingdom. The symbol of Remembrance Day is the poppy. You can see a picture of a poppy below.

Photo by Sermoa

You can learn more about Remembrance Day by clicking the links below:

Posts about Remembrance Day on this blog
Remembrance Day on wikipedia

Give peace a chance!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Unit 6: It's a Party Part 3

Photo by Umami

Hello everyone! Long time no see. I hope you had a nice holiday last Wednesday.
Today we are going to write the second draft of our paragraph about a party.

First, let's review some vocabulary. Please click this link: 基礎英吾ステップ１

Now let's practice typing. Let's practice typing with some new games. Please click the links and play Alpha Attack and Air Typer
 
Next let's look at and listen to your classmates' fotobabbles about their seals. Click 3 links below. Listen to your classmate's fotobabble. After that, write a comment.

Yuya's seal, Hideaki K's seal, Haruka's seal, Yuriko's seal, Manami's seal, Ryota's seal, Tatsuya's seal, Rie's seal, Ryo's seal, Manae's seal, Kaname's seal, Kousei's seal, You's seal.

Ok, now let's edit our first draft and then write the second draft.
Your second draft is due next Wednesday. Enjoy writing!

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English B Unit 9: Companies

Hello everyone!
Today's topic is companies. Look at the picture above. Do you know these companies? What do these companies do? Do these companies do business in Japan? Have you ever bought these companies goods or services? Discuss these questions with a partner.
Now let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: TYG Introduction to Business English Vocabulary list 2.
Next, let's learn more about a company called Natura. Click this link to read a wikipedia article about Natura in Japanese, and click here to read a wikipedia article about Natura in English.
Now, please answer the following questions:

• When was Natura founded?
• What are Natura's products?
• Where is Natura's headquarters?
• Who are the key people at Natura?
• What was Natura's revenue in 2009?
• What was Natura's net income in 2009?
• What does Natura focus its image on?

 Now let's read the Financial Times article about Natura in our textbook.
Finally, what kind of company would you like to found? Why would you like to found a company like that? Leave a comment below.

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2B Reading Chapter 4

Hello everyone!
Well today is the Mid-term test. Before we do the test, let's review some vocabulary. Click this link: 応用英語1-2B Reading. Do the iKnow lesson once.
After the test we will read Chapter 4 and do the tasks.

2010 Abax Some rights reserved

In Chapter 4 we discover some new motives for the murder. What do you think now? Who killed Terry Sweet? Leave a comment below.

Finally, I will be doing a presentation about this class at the ETJ Tokyo Expo. The presentation is at Hongo campus at 3:30 in Room 1402. I hope to see you there.

Shibaura Institute of Technology 英語総合1B Lesson 6 Whiteboard Notes

Hi everyone,
Last week we talked about overfishing and trapping. Both of these issues are controversial (議論の [余地がある] ) in Canada. The issue of trapping, and hunting for furs is especially controversial. The seal hunt is perhaps the most controversial. The seal hunt has been a part of the Inuit culture for over 4000 years. You can see a picture of the Inuit seal hunt below.

This image is public domain

On the other hand, some Canadians don't agree with the seal hunt. Some famous Canadians disagree with the seal hunt. Look at the picture below. In the picture you can see Grace Park. Grace Park was one of the stars of Battlestar Gallatica (宇宙空母ギャラクチカ). Grace Park disagrees with the seal hunt.

Image by PeTA

A Japanese celebrity, Aya Sugimoto has participated in PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked anti-fur campaign too.
Also, there is a group in Japan that is against killing animals for food. You can read it's blog. Click the link: Against Meat Japan.

Last class, most of you disagreed with killing animals for fur, but most of you agreed with killing animals for food.

Below are the whiteboard notes from last class.



Our next topics will be endangered species and garbage dumps.

Toyo Gakuen University Introduction to Business English B Unit 8: Markets

Uploaded to Flickr by artemuestra

Hello everyone!
It's been a while. I hope you enjoyed the school holiday last week.
Today we are going to talk about markets. There are many different kinds of markets including mass markets (大衆市場、マス・マーケット), niche markets (隙間産業［市場］), and so on. Let's learn some new vocabulary. Click this link: TYG Introduction to Business English Vocabulary List 2.
Also, our language focus in this unit (p. 73) is comparatives and superlatives. Click here to do a fun quiz: Comparative and Superlative Quiz.
Our next unit is about companies. After that, we will do presentations. If you want to preview these things click these links: Unit 9 Companies, Our Company Presentation Project.

Shibaura Institute of Technology Writing 1B: Task 5 Lab Report

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday we learned how to write a process paragraph. Your next task is to apply the lesson by writing a lab report. Some good examples of lab reports are below. Shibaura Institute of Technology students wrote the lab reports.
Enjoy!

A Comparison between Strong Acid and Weak Acid by Fumihisa T.

     You can do a simple experiment to prove that strong acid is a better conductor of electricity than weak acid. All you need is a suitable quantity of hydrochloric acid (strong acid) and acetic acid (weak acid), 2 test tubes, 2 light bulbs, 4 conductors and 4 electrode bars. First, fill half of a test tube with hydrochloric acid and another one with acetic acid. Second, connect a light bulb and 2 electrode bars with 2 conductors like in the diagram below. Do this once more. Then soak the electrode bars of one set in the hydrochloric acid and the electrode bars of the other set in the acetic acid. You will see that the light bulb connected to electrode bars that were soaked in hydrochloric acid flashes more brightly than the one connected to electrode bars soaked in acetic acid. This proves that strong acid is a better conductor of electricity than weak acid.

Image by Fumihisa T.

Specific Heat Experiment by Kimihiro O.

Purpose: To show that aluminum has a higher specific heat than steel.
Materials: 2 cans - 1 made of steel and 1 made of  aluminum, 2 thermometers, a refrigerator
Procedure:
1. Fill the can with water.
2. Put the cans into the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
3. Check the temperature of the water in the cans and compare
4. Repeat 2~3 times every 5 minutes
Result: The water in the aluminum can gets cold quickly.

Image by Kimihiro O.

     You can do a simple experiment to prove that aluminum has a higher specific heat than steel. All you need are 2 cans: one made of steel and another made of aluminum, 2 thermometers, and a refrigerator. First, fill the can with water. After that, put the cans into the refrigerator. After 5 minutes, check the temperature of the water in the cans and compare and repeat the process 2~3 times till the time water in the cans become the same temperature. You will see the water in the aluminum can gets cold quickly. This proves that aluminum has a higher specific heat than steel.


Note for teachers: As usual, I have reformulated the students' writing to make it grammatical and a bit more natural sounding. Scott Thornbury has written a great article about reformulation. You can see the abstract here: Reformulation and reconstruction: Tasks that promote 'noticing'.

Toyo Gakuen University Hallowe'en Party 2010

Hi everyone!
Yesterday we had a great party in the English Lounge. Fifty students came to the 5th annual Togaku Hallowe'en Party. Mr. Hardy was the host. We ate sweets. We drank pop, juice, and tea. We carved jack o' lanterns. We sang songs. We played games. It was a great party. I made a video of our party. The song that you can hear in the video was written and performed by my very good friend Marc Fedak. You can hear more of Marc's music on line. Please click this link: marc fedak on soundclick
Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語1-2B Reading Chapter 1-3 Review and Midterm Exam Study Guide

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to review Chapters 1-3 and prepare for the midterm exam. The midterm exam will be next Friday the 4th of November.
Please study the following:

• Vocabulary - study all the words on the quizzes and in the chapter puzzles. You can review these words using our Smart.fm vocabulary list. Click this link: 応用英吾1-2B Reading
• Chapter 1 Review: Be sure to study the mindmap carefully, also please study the Chapter 1 review in your textbook on p.92
• Chapter 2 Review: Please read the comments, also please study the Chapter 2 review in your textbook on p.104
• Chapter 3 Review: Be sure to study the Timeline carefully, and please read the comments. Also please study the Chapter 3 review in your textbook on p.116
• Chapter Quizzes 1-3.  
• The picture of the crime scene on p. 84
• The map on p. 86
• The calendar on p.100
• The timeline on p.111

The midterm exam will have 3 parts:

1. Vocabulary - 10 randomly selected (無作為に選) questions from quizzes 1-3
2. Comprehension - 10 randomly selected questions from quizzes 1-3 
3. Tasks -  (a) draw a mind map describing all the suspects, and showing their relationship to the victim, their motive, and their suspicious behaviour. Look at the example mind map below. You can see the information for Leo Mench. On the printed copy of this mindmap, please fill in the information for the other suspects.

Don't forget that you can use your detective's note book in the exam so be sure to complete the crime report on p.10. Also please fill in the information for the Persons of Interest on p.11, and fill in all the clues in chapters 1-3 on p. 12

Have fun studying. You can get an A if you study hard!

A Special Presentation for Peace

I got a message from my friend Michele Steele about a special presentation about peace. On the 13th of November, Anna Baltzer will be speaking at the Daito Bunka Kaikan. You can see the details in the picture below. Ms. Baltzer's presentation is sponsored by JALT Gunma Chapter and the JALT Global Issues in Language Education Special Interest Group (GILE).

I hope to see you there!

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Unit 6: It's a Party Part 2

Hello everyone,
Today we will continue working on our next task - writing a notice　（お知らせ） and writing a paragraph about a party.
First, let's review some vocabulary. Please click this link: 基礎英吾ステップ１
Now let's practice typing. Let's practice typing with some new games. Please click the links and play
Alpha Attack and Air Typer

Now let's upload our seal to fotobabble.Then read and record the paragraph that you wrote about your seal. Finally, share your fotobabble with me. Next week I will display your fotobabbles here, so we can see and enjoy everyone's seals.

Now, let's return to Task 2: It's a Party. Your homework for today is to write the first draft of your paragraph about your party. Don't forget to check the style sheet. You must send me your paragraph by Tuesday the 9th of November at 6 pm.
Enjoy!

Shibaura Institute of Technology 英語総合1B Lesson 5 Whiteboard Notes

Hi everyone!
Last lesson we started a new unit - Only One Earth. We learned a new reading strategy too - prediction. Also, we did an interesting survey about the world's biggest problems. You ranked the problems listed below:

• Too much garbage
• Endangered species
• Pollution
• Not enough food
• Not enough jobs

Seventy percent (70%) of you said that pollution was the biggest problem or the second biggest problem. After pollution, you thought that not enough food was the most important problem. Seventy-eight percent (78%) of you said that not enough jobs was the least important problem. 

You can see all our whiteboard notes from last lesson below.

The Hire Hire Festival at Toyo Gakuen University

Hello everybody,
Well, it's that time again!! The Hire Hire Festival starts tomorrow.
I spoke to Yuka, one of the organisers of the festival. Our chat was made into a podcast by Jerry Talandis, one of the great teachers at Toyo Gakuen University. You can listen to the podcast by clicking the link below.  There are many great things to see and do at the festival including:

• a flea market
• fireworks
• stamp rally
• stand-up comedy
• live music
• food stands
• ..and many more things!!

Please leave a comment.
Enjoy!

ELP 5: The Hire Hire Festival

Toyo Gakuen University 応用英語I-3B Writing Unit 6: It's a Party Part 1

Hello everyone!
Today we are going to start a new unit. In this unit we will learn how to write a notice and a paragraph about a class party.
First let's learn some vocabulary. Click this link: 基礎英語　ステップ3　Do the iKnow lesson two times.
Next, let's practice typing. Click this link: Qwerty Warriors. Play the game two times.
Now look at the picture below. What do you see?

Photo uploaded to Flickr by emrank

OK, let's start. Open your books to page 53.
Finally, let's make a Fotobabble with our seals. Click here:Sign up for fotobabble.