New Year's Traditions!

～年越しイベントといえば（エイドリアン講師）～

　まもなく2014年、皆さんはいかがお過ごしですか？
　新年を様々な場所で迎えたことのあるエイドリアン講師、ニューヨークのタイムズスクエア・ボールの落下を見に行った年もあるそうです。面白いボール落下の様子は下記のリンクからお楽しみ頂けます。

The New Year is coming!  Is everyone excited?

This New Year I will be far from home...  but that is nothing new! 

I have been many interesting places for New Year's Eve, 1998-1999 I was in New York City's Times Square to watch "The Ball" drop.

The Ball weighs 5,386 kilograms and has 2,688 crystals:

This year I am in Nagano! With 105 minutes to go until...  2014!

Best Wishes, See You All Next Year!

Adrienne

Ninja Sensei - Dirt Biking

～忍者先生、バイクで駆ける（マイケル講師）～

　忍者先生からのビデオレター、今回は２週間前の模様をお届けします。。迫力満点のバイクの映像を、英語と共にお楽しみ下さい。また、忍者先生のビデオを使って、しっかり英語学習をしたい方は、こちらからどうぞ。

Hello, Its Mike and this is a video of my weekend, two weeks ago. I hope you enjoy. If you would like to do the listening exercise, click HERE to go to the Listening Exercise Blog.

Batman Listening Exercise

～リスニング・「バットマン」編(マイケル講師）～

　マイケル講師のリスニング練習、今回は映画バットマンからの１シーンです。ワークシートをダウンロードし、リスニングの自習に役立ててみて下さい。ワークシートの前半は、動画中の台詞の空欄補充問題になっています。まず、何回か動画を見て、聞き取れた単語を書き入れてみましょう。そして後半は全ての台詞が書かれていますので、空欄補充の解答チェック、そして、動画に合わせて台詞を読み、発音練習に役立てて下さい。ネイティブの速さで読まれる英語の聞き取りはとても難しいので、もし上手く出来なくても大丈夫、失敗を恐れずに学習を続けていきましょう。

Hello, Its Michael


 
Today we will try a different listening and vocabulary exercise using the very popular movie, Batman.

1) Please click HERE to download (put on your computer) the question and answer sheet.

2) There is one part to the paper (Fill in the blank)

3) Fill in the Blank: Watch the video one or two times and try to fill in the blanks.

4) Now compare your answers to the summary on the sheet. How did you do?

5) Pronunciation and Summary: Now listen to the pronunciation and read aloud (out loud) with the actor and actress. 

*Remember: If you want to improve your English, study a few time a week and do not be scared to make many mistakes.

Ninja Sensei - Kawaradake Mountain

～忍者先生の香春岳登山～

　忍者先生からビデオレターが届きました。登山にキャンプ、美味しい食事で週末を満喫した様子を動画でお楽しみください。動画中の英文は以下に載っていますので、是非、動画をご覧になり、dictation(読まれた英文の聞き取り)に挑戦した後、実際の英文と照らし合せて確認してみて下さいね。

Hello, Its Michael. If you would like to challenge yourself, try to listen to the video and write down what I say. After you try the listening and writing challenge, you can look at the transcript and compare your answers. Also, I made a mistake and said Hirusen Mountain. The mountains name was Kawaradake Mountain.

Hello Ninja sensei here,

I’m making this video at 7:30 in the morning, in a tree.

Its 730 in the morning - In a tree

I had a very exciting and delicious weekend.

We did a 5km hike in Hikosan Mountain.

The second activity was sleeping outside at night.

We had some great food.

Until next time, Ninja sensei out.

Ninja Sensei - Cleaning Beaches and Singing Karaoke

～最近の忍者先生は・・・？（マイケル講師）～

  　忍者先生は、この２週間をとてもアクティブに過ごしました。ロッククライミング、角島でのゴミ清掃活動、年末年始の旅行の計画、そして小学校では角島のゴミについてのプレゼンテーションをし、子ども達の前でカラオケも披露しました。楽しい様子は動画をご覧ください。忍者先生の動画を使ってdictation(読まれた英文の書き取り)をすれば、楽しく英語学習も出来ますよ。ブログの英文は、動画のTranscript(原稿)が書かれていますので、dictationがどのくらい合っているか確認できます。是非チャレンジしてみて下さいね。
 
If you would like to challenge yourself, try to listen to the video and write down what I say. After you try the listening and writing challenge, you can look at the transcript and compare your answers. 

Hello, Ninja Sensei Here

So I did 4 actives in the past two weeks.

The first activity was rock climbing at Seminar Park.

The second activity was cleaning Tsunoshima beach.

The third activity was buying a plane ticket to Cambodia for 11 days

And the last activity was doing a Tsunoshima gomi presentation at Sue Elementary School (陶小学校).

One last activity, I sang Ricky Martin in front a group of 50 people at Sue elementary school festival.

Ninja Sensei Out

Winter is Coming!

～ウインタースポーツにお薦めの場所は？（エイドリアン講師）～

　冬休みが近づいて来ましたが、エイドリアン講師はこの休みを、雪を楽しむことの出来る日本国内で過ごす予定です。冬季五輪が開催された長野県白馬村の積雪にビックリ、長野にウィンタースポーツをしに行きたいそうです。皆さんも良いスキー場をご存知でしたら、是非エイドリアン講師に教えてあげて下さい。

Aloha,

There is a chance I will stay in Japan for the New Year's Holiday!  

More than 7 years have passed since my last New Year's snow vacation. And while it DOES snow in Hawai'i:

View of Snowy Mauna Kea from Hilo Bay



Click here to learn about the the Subaru Telescope:

http://www.naoj.org/Gallery/tele_dome.html







... if I save my money maybe I can go to one of Japan's great Winter Sports Areas!


The 2020 Summer Olympics will be hosted in Tokyo, but it won't be the first time. Japan has hosted three other times: 

1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo
1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo

and most recently,

1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano

Wow! Hakuba, Nagano

Two Winter Olympics!

I don't have much money to fly to Sapporo, so I may go to Nagano. 

Luckily, I learned even Kyushu has Winter Sports areas!



Can you recommend your favorite Winter Sports area?


Adrienne

Ninja Sensei Trash Art and Rock Climbing.

～忍者先生からのメッセージでリスニング練習！（マイケル講師）～

　忍者先生ことマイケル講師の動画で楽しみながら英語のリスニングをしてみませんか？忍者先生がどんなことを話しているのか考えながら聞いてみましょう。Transcript(読まれた英文原稿)は、Vocabulary(語彙)の解説と共に載っていますので、気軽にチャレンジしてみて下さいね。そして、彼が忍者先生と呼ばれる所以は、ある物にありました。詳しくは以下でご覧下さい。

Hello everyone, Its Michael. Here is a video of my weekend which I hope you enjoy. Also, read below to see why I am called Ninja Sensei. Also, I recommend using this as a listening exercise. After you try to understand my sentences, you can look at the transcript below.


Transcript:

Ninja Sensei Here,

I’m making this video while hanging upside down from a tree.

I had a very adventurous weekend.

The first activity was hanging up Art in N3 Gallery.

The second activity was going for a 10-mile bike ride.

And the last activity was going rock climbing behind Seminar Park

Ninja Sensei Out


Vocabulary:
Upside down: This means that the upside (head and upper body) is facing down and your feet are facing up.
     -Example: John was hanging upside down from the jungle gym.

Adventurous: This describes something that is exciting and you enjoy doing.
     -Example: Mikes likes adventurous activities very much.

Hang up: This usually means to put something on a wall (like a picture).
     -Example: I will hang the picture on the wall tomorrow morning.

Ninja Sensei: My students gave me the name “Ninja Sensei” when I first came to Japan because of the shoes I wore. The shoes area called Vibram FiveFingers Shoes in America but my Japanese students have never seen them before. They asked what they were and I told them they were Ninja shoes. After that, I was called Ninja Sensei.

Roman Holiday Listening Exercise

～「ローマの休日」でリスニング！（マイケル講師）～



Hello Everyone,

Today we will try a listening and vocabulary exercise with Roman Holiday starring Audrey Hepburn.

1) Please click HERE to download (put on your computer) the question and answer sheet.

2) There are three parts to the paper (Summary, Fill in the blank, and the Subtitles).

3) Summary Exercise: Watch the video two or three times and try to write some words you hear. It is okay if it is very very very hard. Native speed listening exercises are very hard.

4) Fill in the Blank: Watch the video one or two times and try to fill in the blanks.

5) Subtitles: read the subtitles of Roman Holiday and look at your answers on the Fill in the Blank exercise. How did you do?

6) Pronunciation and Summary: Now listen to the pronunciation and read aloud (out loud) with the actor and actress. After you try this once, try to listen again and practice the Summary exercise one more time.

*Remember: If you want to improve your English, study a few time a week and do not be scared to make many mistakes.

Looking for a fun way to go to Hokkaido?

～北海道へ、フェリーの旅（エイドリアン講師）～

Aloha!

One of my Obon week adventures was a journey to Hokkaido by sea.

The Shin Nihonkai ferry sails to Otaru, Hokkaido from Maizuru, Kyoto every night at 12:05am.



Shin Nihonkai ferry at the Maizuru terminal.

 

The trip is 20 hours, and the ship arrives in Otaru at 8:00pm the next night.

Inside the ship there were two restaurants and a convenience store. There were also game rooms, movie rooms, bath areas, and places to relax and watch the scenery. 

My husband and I stayed in a "Japanese-Style" room.  Our room had tatami floors, a low table with two chairs, two futons, a television, and a radio.  Of course there was a tea set too!




I am not used to "sitting seiza"...  Ouch!

 Staying in a private room cost a little more than staying in the dormitory, but it was still a bargain!

More adventures soon,

Adrienne

A Global Village...in Shunan!

～国際交流に興味がある方、必見！（ベン講師）～

On Saturday, September 28th the International Committee of Shunan held it's first international gathering.  To start off a series of multi-cultural events, there was Global village in downtown Shunan.  Many  countries had booths, where anyone could try delicious food, talk to people from around the world, and just have a good time.

I really enjoyed the "chijimi" from Korea, and the clothes from Vietnam were beautiful. 

If you are interested in more international events, stop by the festival in downtown Shunan on October 28th, and look for me!

Big Chicken and a Monkey

～山賊焼と猿廻し（レスリー講師）～

Hello Everyone!

The weather has been getting cooler, which makes me very happy :)

Last weekend, I went to Sanzoku and Iwakuni. I had a great time! I loved eating the big chicken at Sanzoku.

Me in front of Sanzoku

In Iwakuni,  I saw the famous Kintai Bridge. I also saw a monkey perform many tricks! He walked on stilts and on top of a basketball. It was really funny to watch. 

Kintai Bridge

Performing monkey!

I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather! Have a good week!

Beautiful Rice

~秋の訪れ・田んぼの美しさ（ショーナ講師）～

Hello,
 
Recently, I took a drive up into the mountains of Yamaguchi. My car had a very hard time going up and down and around all those sharp corners. I am used to it though. In Jamaica, we have the same problems going up steep hills. However, there is one thing we don't have ; rice fields! Oh the beautiful rice fields!!!

Rice field in Kano

 I just love the contrasting green especially when the wind is blowing the rice to and fro. Just beautiful! I can only imagine what it would be like to play in a field of ready-to-harvest rice. I would probably break out in hives since I have allergies, but it looks like fun.

Tokyo 2020!

～2020年オリンピックが東京に！（レイア講師）～

After a long and heartfelt campaign, Tokyo was finally announced as the host city for the 2020 Summer Olympics! The final vote between Tokyo and Istanbul was 60-36. Congratulations!

Japan last hosted the Summer Olympics in 1964 in Tokyo. The Winter Olympics were held in Sapporo in 1972 and Nagano in 1998. 

Even though it's 7 years away, many people are very excited. I hope that I will still be in Japan so that I can attend. My favorite Summer Olympic events are basketball and gymnastics! 

What are your favorite events?

Maps! I wish I had a map!

~私のコレクション（エイドリアン講師）～

 

 

Aloha!

Two of my favorite hobbies are collecting post cards from around the world:

Popular postcard in Hawai'i

...and studying antique (old) maps:

Map of Sea Monsters!

 

But... antique maps are expensive! This antique map of Japan costs $1,200!

Popular Postcard of Mt. Fuji Art

     




Postcards can be fun and cheap.  I have post cards from Hawai'i, Alaska, California, New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Mexico, Canada, and now I have some from Japan!


What do you collect?


Take Care,
Adrienne

Obon in Nagasaki and Kumamoto

~長崎・熊本の旅（アマンダ講師）～

Hello, everyone!

Did you enjoy your Obon holiday?

This year, I spent 6 days in Kyushu. First, I drove to Nagasaki. I really enjoyed seeing Glover Gardens and the night view from Mt. Inasa

Glover Gardens

Nagasaki night view

After Nagasaki, I took the ferry from Shimabara to Kumamoto. I spent two days in Kumamoto and saw Kumamoto castle. It was really interesting!

Kumamoto Castle

I hope you had a good vacation as well!

-Amanda

Typhoon Fun!

 

Japan is very exciting.
There is sumo, the bullet train and also typhoons.I am from the U.K. It rains a lot in the U.K. but it is not as exciting as Japan. Japanese weather is very extreme. Last week it was 36 degrees in Tokuyama. Yesterday it was 24 degrees. The temperatures in England never change so much!

The typhoon moved north and missed Tokuyama. I was so sad. At least it was cooler and there was heavy rain.
The typhoon last week was so much FUN. We don't have typhoons in England.
I am looking forward to the very cold winter in Japan!
~Mel~

Obon Vacation

～お盆休みは初体験目白押し!(レスリー講師）～

I have been in Japan for two months, and I was very excited to do some traveling over Obon.  

My first stop was Hiroshima, which included a day trip to Miyajima Island. I really enjoyed my day on the island. It was absolutely beautiful, and I got to see the torii gate at low and high tide. 



広島・宮島の鳥居

On my way back from Hiroshima, I stopped in Yanai to the festival that included many, many spinning goldfish. I loved to watch the goldfish light up at night!



柳井のお祭り

I did visit a few other cities, but I also did some exploring around Shunan. I saw the Hello Kitty exhibit at the Shunan Art Museum, which was very cute! I love Hello Kitty :)

I hope you had a fun Obon!

- Leslie

～夏休みは、九州・屋久島へ （アダム講師）～

Obon 
is a festival celebrated around August 13th to honor the spirits of one's ancestors. 

Since I don't have any ancestors in Japan, I decided to take my week vacation to see some of the more beautiful sites of Japan. I went touring around Kyushu island and Yakushima for 6 days. It was a great trip, camping, swimming, hiking, visiting waterfalls and onsens, and meeting new people. I also saw two volcanoes! Kyushu is a beautiful island and I can't wait to go back.

Here is a picture I took of Sakurajima on the ferry back from Yakushima

屋久島フェリーから見た桜島の噴火

Weekend in Hiroshima

～見どころがいっぱい♫　広島観光 (アマンダ講師）～

Hiroshima is one of my favorite cities. There are a lot of things to do there, but it's not too big and it's easy to find your way around.

A few weeks ago, I went to Hiroshima for two days. I visited Shukkeien landscape garden for the second time.

There were so many beautiful plants!

I also visited Hiroshima castle for the first time. It was really interesting

Outside of the castle

I also went to an Irish pub called Molly Malone's. The food was really good, but the portions were SO large!

Chicken pie and mashed potatoes...so good! 

(picture from http://www.mollymalones.jp/)

Where are your favorite places in Hiroshima?

The Start of My Adventure in Japan

～みなさん、はじめまして！　(レスリー講師）～

Hello!

My name is Leslie, and I am a new teacher at SES. I love watching movies and traveling. I have traveled to England, Scotland, Italy, France, New Zealand, and Australia. I am very excited to travel around Japan and see many new places. Last weekend, I went to the summer festival in downtown Shunan. I also saw the fireworks in Hikari.

What are your favorite places in Japan? I would love to see them!

Baby Lions!

~可愛い動物との触れ合い(レイア講師）~

Last weekend I went to Safari Land near Akiyoshidai to see the baby lions. They were sooo soft and cute!

We could watch them drink milk from bottles. For  ¥1000 we could also have our picture taken while holding one of them! It was such a cool experience!

If you are interested you can check the Safari Land website for more information. Hurry! You can only hold the lion cubs until the end of July!

July 1 2013, Adrienne's 101st day in Japan! Where has the time gone!

～日本での充実した日々・ここはどこでしょう？(エイドリアン講師）～

Aloha!

Today is a special day, today is my 101 Day Anniversary in Japan!  Wow!  

There is an old saying:  "Time flies when you are having fun!"  

I am having lots of fun, so the time is going by very fast!

Here are some places I've seen since coming to Japan; can you guess where they are?  

Bonus Points: What are these buildings/structures called?

Have Fun!  Adrienne

Hint:  Somewhere in Yamaguchi prefecture

Hint: This is in one of the former capitals of Japan!

 

 

HInt: This nearby building contains a giant!

Hint: Somewhere in Kansai

Hint: One of the largest in Japan, also in Kansai 

MMMMM Mos Burger!!

～夏の楽しみ・ショーナ講師編～

Hello everyone,

Many people say the best thing about summer is the sunny skies or beach parties. For me, the best thing about summer in Japan is.....Mos Burger!
Why?
Not because they have the best burgers but because in the summer, they have a special burger made just for me. The 'Natsumi' burger! They are all good but the one I like the most is the Natsumi Fish. It has crispy lettuce, a slice of cheese and a hot, juicy, fish patty. In fact I'm going to Mos Burger right now!!



Natsumi Fish

See you there!

Shauna