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,