The New Tanuki

Out of Service

2006-05-30T07:46:00.000+09:00

This weblog is no longer in use. It will most likely be deleted by the end of the year. I am now using Moodle for course management, while running a personal weblog alongside those of my students. A description of our current course is located here:
http://e-poche.net/?p=62

P2P Project - Spring 2005

2005-09-08T21:09:00.000+09:00

In the spring of 2005, a group of nine Japanese university students and I ran blogs on Livejournal and maintained photo galleries on Flickr. We met f2f once a week for 14 weeks during the semetser. We organized our weekly activities on Moodle, which consisted of blogging, skimming, scanning, reading, writing, and study of vocab, grammar, syntax, sentence writing, sentence combining, sentence correction, editing, etc. At the end of the course, students overwhelmingly found their activities on Flickr to be the most educational and enjoyable of all.

Here are links to the student blogs, none of which are active any longer:

Churin427
Cooper418
Gafas100
Moka19
Nappe
Swan525
TacBrasil
Takeshimatoba
Yu_ma

Links to student Flickr accounts can be found by following links from the photos posted on their weblogs or from our Flickr group.

Happy Summer Vacation

2005-07-20T16:41:00.000+09:00

I just want to say thank you to all the students in my Internet English course this semester. I had a lot of fun communicating with you both in class and online. Please keep in touch by continuing to share your ideas on Livejournal and your photos on Flickr.

Congratulations

2005-06-28T12:59:00.000+09:00

Congratulations to TacBrasil, Takeshimatoba, and Moka19, whose selected Stuefer photos were chosen by Dekita.org to serve as headers. Good work you three! You must have a nice eye for design and color. Follow the conversation at Dekita-Flickr.

Tokyo: Most Expensive City

2005-06-21T09:04:00.000+09:00

Panorama 10 - Tokyo,
originally uploaded by rosskirby.

According to a recent report, Tokyo is the world's costliest city, while Osaka ended up second on the list. This implies that Japan is one of the most expensive places to live in the world today. I certainly spend a lot of money each month compared to what I would spend if I were living back in the United States. I wonder what it is that makes Japan so expensive?

Josef Stuefer - a great photographer

2005-06-14T14:03:00.000+09:00

,
originally uploaded by josef.stuefer.

I just love the photos that Josef Stuefer posts to his online gallery. He really has an eye for color and form, which gives his photos a magical quality. Have a look at his Flickr site and leave some comments.

Kro - A Brazilian Student

2005-06-01T17:33:00.000+09:00

Kro_00,
originally uploaded by Kro (Eiri Yuki).

Kro (Eiri Yuki) is a 15-year-old Serbian/Brazilian girl who has an interest in Japanese culture, especially in manga and in the influence of Western culture on Japanese society. She wants to be a writer and, like you, she runs a blog called, Don't Let Tomorrow Come. She also has an online photo gallery. Please pay Kro a visit and say hello.

Welcome New Bloggers

2005-05-17T10:12:00.000+09:00

I would like to extend a warm welcome to 10 new EFL bloggers at Kyoto Sangyo University, eight of whom are Churin427, Cooper418, Gafas100, Moka19, Nappe, TacBrasil, Takeshimatoba, and Yu_ma. Please visit their blogs, read their thoughts, and leave them some comments.

Dekita.org

2005-05-05T20:15:00.000+09:00

Dekita.org is a website where you can go to find other English language learners who are using weblogs to communicate their thoughts, just like some of you are. Why don't you pay a visit to Dekita.org and leave a comment?

Elllo

2005-04-13T20:24:00.000+09:00

For listening practice, check out Elllo, which stands for English Language Listening Lab online. There you can listen to accents from English speakers from all over the world, test your comprehension with a quiz, and read along at the same time.

Hello Sangyo Students!

2005-04-06T10:36:00.000+09:00

Hi everybody! It is a pleasure to meet all of you. I am very excited to be teaching at Kyoto Sangyo University for the first time. The campus is beautiful and all the teachers, students, and staff have been friendly and helpful to me. I have a very good feeling about Sangyo. Thank you.

Goodbye Ryukoku Students

2005-01-23T19:23:00.000+09:00

I made a goodbye message for you all to listen to. I will miss you.

Background Music: Sacred Circle by Tulku

J@pan Penfriend

2005-01-07T14:22:00.000+09:00

Shiho points us to J@pan Penfriend, a site that promotes penpal/friendship exchanges between Japanese and non-Japanese people. Thanks for letting us know about this Shiho.

Volunteer in Sri Lanka

2005-01-04T14:02:00.000+09:00

If any of you are interested in doing volunteer work in Sri Lanka over the winter break as part of the tsunami relief effort, please send me an email. I can put you in touch with a Japan-based professor looking for student volunteers.

Never Again

2004-12-20T08:37:00.000+09:00

Never Again,
originally uploaded by apc33.

I visited Hiroshima last month and was overwhelmed by what I saw and learned there. The horror of atomic weaponry is real and it just amazes me how humans have used their creativity and ingenuity to develop such destructive tools. Why must we kill to solve problems? I think that before taking office, every world leader should be required to visit Hiroshima and learn about the consequences of using nuclear weapons.

The Polar Express

2004-12-19T18:41:00.000+09:00

I hear The Polar Express is a really good movie. Whether it is or not remains to be seen, but from the looks of the trailer, at least the animation is spectacular.

Yuki the Blogger

2004-12-15T13:29:00.000+09:00

Yuki is a first year student at Waseda University in Tokyo. In addition to running a Livejournal blog, called Sky High, she also has her own website called Kissui.net. She does all of her writing in English, which enables her to meet people from all over the world and make many new friends. Why don't you visit one of her sites and say hello?

Asahi.com

2004-12-03T07:08:00.000+09:00

For reading practice, try the Asahi Shimbun online. Not only are there shortened articles to read, but there are also links to short English tips in the right column.

November Updates

2004-11-19T06:37:00.000+09:00

Nami1818 went to England, while umi12 is planning a trip to Thailand. Meanwhile, aiueo518 raises the issue of slavery in the world, while mai0907 ponders the tragedy of Shosei Koda. Also, george_g receives help from abroad and jackietakashi goes fishing in Lake Biwa. Isn't our class interesting?

How's your Geosense?

2004-11-09T07:15:00.000+09:00

Janina points us to Geosense, an interactive website designed to test your knowledge of geography. Sign in and play.

Coming of Age

2004-10-22T06:24:00.000+09:00

Ur1109 discovers some interesting coming of age differences between Japanese and American youth.

The List

2004-10-15T07:55:00.000+09:00

The List over at WorldAtlas.Com provides a fascinating list of world facts. Have a gander.

TanTux

2004-10-12T07:02:00.000+09:00

TanTux, the site of your exchange with Belgian university students, is up and running. On it you will find your Livejournal postings and entries made by Belgian students in Japanese and English. Please visit frequently to contribute your ideas to Belgian student postings and respond to comments left on your Livejournal entries.

KeyPals Club

2004-10-02T13:00:00.000+09:00

Are you looking for keypals? Would you like to communicate with other students via email? Is Livejournal too public for you? Why don't you have a look at the KeyPals Club. Just sign in using your email address and search for other students from different countries.

Link via Alex Halavais

Mark in Japan

2004-10-01T07:55:00.000+09:00

Ryukoku teacher, Mark White, has just started a Livejournal. Stop by and say hello.

Welcome Back

2004-09-21T07:01:00.000+09:00

Welcome back from your vacations everyone. I am really looking forward to hearing about your summer. I think this semester will be a very educational and enjoyable one. We will be meeting lots of people online. See you in class.

Peace as a Global Language Conference

2004-09-14T07:22:00.000+09:00

All of you should consider attending the Peace as a Global Language Conference at Ritsumeikan University in Kyoto later this month. There will be many intersting lectures in both English and Japanese about the many global problems and challenges that exist today. There will also be a hunger banquet. The cost is only 500 yen for a whole day, or 1,000 yen for all three days - a great deal!

English Study Resources

2004-09-11T13:47:00.000+09:00

I just added a link in the left sidebar to Eric Bray's English Study Resources: a site containing links to various online resources for listening, reading, pronunciation, quizzes, etc. Have a look.

Site Update

2004-09-11T13:24:00.000+09:00

I hope everyone is having a great summer break. I am making a few changes to the site that I hope will make commenting and navigating easier. See you soon.

ESL/EFL Friendly Blogs

2004-08-18T09:34:00.000+09:00

For those of you looking to interact with some bloggers outside of the livejournal community, a good place to start would be James Trotta's list of ESL/EFL Friendly blogs for learning English and teaching English. There you can find links to weblogs that encourage comments by English learners like yourselves. Give it a try and broaden your personal language learning community.

Tawawa

2004-07-13T07:21:00.000+09:00

I just had a interesting chat with some of the people over at Tawawa.org, a bilingual, online community of teachers and students of English. Tawawa is run by Rudolf Ammann, a teacher at Mie University. This is definitely a site you don't want to miss.

Habbo Hotel

2004-07-12T19:14:00.000+09:00

For anyone interested in adding a bit of entertaining context to chat, check into the Habbo Hotel and meet all kinds of people.

Dear Ai

2004-06-27T08:11:00.000+09:00

Do you need some advice on studying abroad or learning English? Visit the Dear Ai blog and ask a question.

Starfall

2004-06-18T07:01:00.000+09:00

Yuuta at UMDStalk introduced Starfall.com, where you can learn pronunciation and have a laugh at the same time.

Please join the UMDStalk and have fun chatting with students from Kobe. Visit their weblogs too.

Friday Faces

2004-06-15T07:00:00.000+09:00


mariichigo	george-g	kan825

Here are some Friday Faces. What kind of picture will you choose for your Livejournal?

GeorgeG the Poet

2004-06-10T20:43:00.000+09:00

George-g is now writing in poetic imagery. He's met a man from Washington and a woman from the Philippines. Go George!

Joi Ito's Web

2004-06-07T13:21:00.000+09:00

Read about world famous Japanese blogger, Joi Ito, in this news article.

A Night Time View

2004-06-05T19:36:00.001+09:00

Mariichigo provides us with a link to a spectacular view of Kyoto at night.

2004-06-01T06:43:00.000+09:00

Takashi just started a weblog. He is a student at the University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences in Kobe. He and his classmates have a Yahoo! Group and they are starting to use blogs for writing and communication. Pay a visit and join in their discussions.

2004-05-28T07:56:00.000+09:00

Have a look at the work ESL students from around the globe are doing at TOPICS, an online magazine for learners of English. In the latest issue you can read about different cities, manners, descriptions of emotional experiences, and putting on a class play. Enjoy!

2004-05-13T20:02:00.000+09:00

Try some of James Trotta's online English lessons and put what you learn to immediate use in your Livejournals. From ESLgo.com

via ESL blog

2004-05-11T06:50:00.000+09:00

For those of you interested in listening practice, I suggest visiting Andrew Johnson's English Trailers website, where you can test your listening skills by watching the latest movie trailers (previews) and answering questions. He now boasts a growing library of more than 5 dozen trailers. This seems like a fun way to learn, doesn't it?

2004-05-02T08:32:00.000+09:00

In her first week as a blogger, yuyuyuka meets a woman from Georgia and teaches a man from Texas how to clean his futon. That's quite an introduction to the power of the internet, isn't it? Way to go Yuka!

2004-04-29T20:07:00.000+09:00

A warm welcome goes out to all the new bloggers at the New Tanuki. You will find their links in the right column.

2004-04-22T08:33:00.000+09:00

Are you an environmentalist? How much of the world's resources do you consume everyday? Find out how large your ecological footprint is by taking this quiz.

via J-Walk

2004-04-16T07:02:00.000+09:00

Meet Grennie. She's an international student living in Kyoto and quickly becoming an expert on Japanese culture. Why don't you visit her website and find out what she's up to these days? I'm sure she would be happy to receive your comments.

2004-04-10T14:18:00.000+09:00

Wow, what a day! So many new faces and interesting stories. I even began teaching a class that wasn't even mine! Those students were as confused as I was, no doubt. Well, make sure you all bring your photos in next week so I can learn your names faster. See you next week.

2004-04-09T07:18:00.000+09:00

On a recent trip to Northern England, I stayed overnight at a cozy B&B, run by a very friendly family. In the dining room several beautiful flowers were resting on the table. I soon discovered that the flowers were made of sugar, which was a hobby of the woman who lived and worked there. Those flowers looked so real. I couldn't believe it.

2004-04-06T17:05:00.000+09:00

Eliza writes about discrimination and the Japanese language. What do you think?

2004-04-04T14:32:00.000+09:00

The cherry blossoms are out. It's such a beautiful time here in Kyoto. I especially love to watch the petals fall off the trees during the last few days of the viewing season. It looks like pink snow. See some photos here and here.

2004-02-28T12:55:00.000+09:00

Charlie Williams introduces Parapal, a website that 'contains a variety of interactive exercises to improve your English. They are designed to improve your listening, writing, reading, vocabulary and grammar skills'. Check it out.

2004-02-20T08:49:00.000+09:00

Aili celebrated her 1st birthday this week. We sang Happy Birthday, opened presents, ate cake, danced to her favorite music, and read books. We also introduced her to bubbles for the first time. She was surprised at their beauty but became confused when they suddenly disappeared after touching them. Aili was having a great time. The evening ended, though, when she tried walking across the kitchen floor, only to slip and fall right on her face - oops! After bawling for a few minutes in the comfort of her mother's arms, she fell asleep and dreamt the kind of dreams that 1-year-olds dream.

2004-02-08T18:51:00.000+09:00

It's great to see people smile, but can you tell the difference between a genuine smile and a fake one? Take this short test from the BBCi and find out.

(via Blogdex)

2004-01-29T23:32:00.000+09:00

Why don't y'all learn some slang while you're on vacation?

(via J-Walk blog)

2004-01-25T12:30:00.000+09:00

For those of you interested in improving your scores on the TOEIC test, a new service from English World Connect has turned preparing for the TOEIC into a game! English Match is an internet based game that allows you to compete with other players from around the world. Try it out and see how high you can score.

2004-01-20T09:34:00.000+09:00

Yesterday some friends of ours were attacked by a group of monkeys right outside our house when they were leaving to go home after an afternoon visit. The monkeys always come down from the mountains in the winter to look for food. Our friends were carrying some groceries, which were obviously what these Japanese macaques were after. I ran outside and snapped a photo. See the cute baby?

2004-01-17T15:55:00.000+09:00

Now that our school year has finished, I'd like to wish everyone a safe and enjoyable spring vacation. I had an awesome year working with all of you! See you again in April?

2004-01-15T08:14:00.000+09:00

Shel Silverstein is one of my favorite poets. With the current problems of mad cow disease and avian influenza, this poem from Silverstein's book Falling Up is particularly relevant:

I said, "I'll take the T-bone steak."
A soft voice mooed, "Oh wow."
And I looked up and realized
The waitress was a cow.
I cried, "Mistake--forget the the steak.
I'll take the chicken then."
I heard a cluck--'twas just my luck
The busboy was a hen.
I said, "Okay no, fowl today.
I'll have the seafood dish."
Then I saw through the kitchen door
The cook--he was a fish.
I screamed, "Is there anyone workin' here
Who's an onion or a beet?
No? Your're sure? Okay then friends,
A salad's what I'll eat."
They looked at me. "Oh,no," they said,
"The owner is a cabbage head."

2004-01-11T12:25:00.000+09:00

Review your 'family vocab' by studying this really funny song by Ray Stevens called, I'm My Own Grandpa. See you if can follow it without getting too confused. Also, turn up your speakers to hear the music and lyrics.

2004-01-09T05:48:00.000+09:00

*IMPORTANT NOTICE*

All second year students will take the TOEIC test on Wednesday, January 28th in room #4-209, from 9:20am to 12:00pm. Please be sure to attend.

2004-01-08T06:40:00.000+09:00

Happy New Year to everyone! All that stuff you see hanging from the trees in the photo is called Spanish Moss, a plant related to the pineapple that grows all over the Southeast region of the United States. Many critters live in the Spanish moss, like small birds, spiders, and insects. The moss has also been used for decoration, building materials, and medicine. I took the picture during my winter vacation in Florida. Learn more about this unique plant.

2003-12-24T22:51:00.000+09:00

I want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! May your holiday season be safe, warm, and carefree.

See you in 2004.

2003-12-08T20:30:00.000+09:00

Due to Japan's low birth rate, its population falls every year. According to a recent VOA report (via Nippon Goro Goro), if the falling birth rate continues, Japan will need about 600,000 new immigrant workers each year to sustain economic growth. This will mean that the ability to communicate clearly in English will no longer be an exclusive concern of those wishing to work, study, and travel abroad; but instead it will become an increasingly valuable skill for all Japanese people to have.

2003-12-05T05:50:00.000+09:00

I know many of you like going into Kyoto on the weekends for shopping and hanging out with friends. Have a look at the impressive photos on a site called, Alive in Kyoto, by a foreign resident named Nils. Do you recognize some of the places?

2003-12-05T05:44:00.000+09:00

Some of you have expressed an interest in learning more about the history of Thanksgiving in the USA.

2003-12-02T05:57:00.000+09:00

Announcement: Classes on Friday, December 19th are cancelled. Please mark your calendars.

2003-12-02T05:56:00.000+09:00

Ahhh...the colorful fall leaves in Kyoto always put me in a happy mood. I just wonder why they peak so much later (one month) than they do back home in the USA? I suppose it has to do with temperature and amount of sunlight and humidity.

2003-11-21T05:47:00.000+09:00

For those of you who enjoy the theater, there will be two short plays in English at the Tranq Room in Kyoto this Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Nov. 22-24). Both are about love. Performance times are 6pm ~ 8:30pm and tickets run for 1,500yen at the door. See you there?

2003-11-14T11:46:00.000+09:00

This weblog's days are numbered. As you may know, a tanuki has magical powers of transformation. The New Tanuki is set to evolve into a much richer communicative environment. Stay tuned for details.

2003-11-07T17:24:00.000+09:00

Homeless men in Kamagasaki, Osaka. Photo by Andreas Seibert.

Yesterday I paid a visit to the Kamagasaki district of Osaka, where there are thousands of homeless people. Many of them are middle-aged and elderly men who try finding day work, usually in construction. Aside from the suffering that comes with not having a warm place to sleep at night; gambling, drugs, and prostitution are also big problems in that community. One of the day laborers, who is involved in an NPO (Non-Profit Organization) to help the homeless, showed me around the area. He said that the number of homeless people is continuing to grow each year in Japan. Indeed, I was shocked at what I saw: a neighborhood so much different than what I am accustomed to seeing in Kyoto and other parts of Japan. I wonder how many Japanese people are aware of how big the problem is becoming?

2003-11-03T09:47:00.000+09:00

I just came across an excellent site for TOEIC preparation called free-TOEIC.com. Once you sign-in, you can take sample tests online and check your answers when you're finished. Explanations of why any given answer is correct are also given. For those of you taking the TOEIC in January (all my second year students), this site would be a good place to do some serious practice.

2003-10-15T20:16:00.000+09:00

Nigel sensei told me about a site called ESL notes, that helps students understand the language used in popular movies. If you're a movie buff and want to learn and practice what your favorite stars are saying, then give it a try.

Also, don't forget about English Trailers, the place where you can watch previews and practice your listening comprehension skills.

While you're at it, practice the games and quizzes at ESL partyland movies and search the Internet Movie Database for reviews and information on just about every major Western movie ever filmed.

2003-10-03T06:11:00.000+09:00

For those of you taking the TOEIC test in January (you poor souls), please make use of the links on the left side of this page in your spare time (actually, try to make some spare time for it!). Some good places to start are Randall's Listening Lab for listening practice, a4ESL for grammar and vocabulary work, and the 5 minute daily TOIEC quizzes from Eigotown.

2003-09-30T06:06:00.000+09:00

Did you know orangutans are an endangered species and could become extinct in 20 years? This is mostly because their home (the forest) is being destroyed by illegal loggers (companies who cut down trees without permission). Orangutans live in the trees of Indonesia and Malaysia. They eat leaves and fruit. Read more....

2003-09-27T12:26:00.000+09:00

Welcome back! I had such a happy day seeing everyone yesterday. It was really interesting to hear about all of your summer vacation experiences. I tried explaining to Hiromi what it was like to talk with more than 100 people in a day. As you might imagine, I fell asleep on the tatami right after eating dinner last night. Whew! I was tired.

2003-09-23T09:38:00.000+09:00

My friend Sasha is having putting on a fashion exhibition of clothing made from 100% recycled materials. What a great way to use what would normally end-up in the garbage dump! That reminds me of a famous saying: One man's trash is another man's treasure. Of course, I think we should substitue 'person' for 'man'.

Sasha's exhibition is being held at the Tranq Room in Kyoto until September 29th. Won't you come take a look?

2003-09-20T23:03:00.000+09:00

Wow. It's been a long time since I made a posting here. I've mostly been working on another website I facilitate: East Asia Center. So, I guess it's time to turn on the lights, put on some music, and give this place a good dusting in preparation for the new term. Oh what the heck, I guess I'll light some incense too.

2003-09-01T21:44:00.000+09:00

If any of you find yourselves in Kyoto over the rest of the summer break, stop into The Hill of Tara sometime for a bite to eat and a chat with some of the customers. Being an Irish Pub, The Hill offers tasty food and excellent beer (for those of you who enjoy that). Best of all, live Irish music is often played on Friday or Saturday evenings, making for a lively atmosphere. When I went there last week, I ran into one of my former students from Ryukoku, who seemed to be having a fun time.

2003-08-13T18:45:00.000+09:00

I hiked up to the top of Hieizan on Sunday. That's a shot I took of one of the many temples at Enryakuji. Peaceful isn't it? While I snapped that photo, the sound of chanting monks filled my ears. Read more about my trip.

2003-08-07T01:17:00.000+09:00

Look at the inspirational work that Amman-sensei and his students are doing over at Mie University. They have created a very attractive group weblog called Tawawa.org, which is full of interesting stories, photos, and conversations. Would any of you second year students be interested doing something like this at Ryukoku next year? I think it sounds like a great idea.

2003-08-02T13:46:00.000+09:00

As you can see, Aili is growing up quickly. Now she likes eating bananas in the morning, making lots of goofy noises, dancing, and playing games with her daddy. Soon we think she'll be crawling all over the house.

2003-07-27T19:09:00.000+09:00

I took a bike ride in Iwakura this evening, north of Kyoto. I found a dirt road leading back into the woods along side a little creek that ran back through a small valley lined with evergreen trees. The air was cool, moist, and filled with ki from the plants. I went as far as I could before having to turn back due to the dimming light of the early evening. On my way back a twig got caught between my front tire and fender and I took a spill. Fortunately I wasn't injured too badly and was able to bend the fender back into place in order to ride out of the forest. I escaped with only a few bruises and a small cut on my left leg. Maybe I should think twice before riding a street bike in the woods?

2003-07-23T10:33:00.000+09:00

I went shopping for baby books at Maruzen yesterday. I realized that all the English books were much more expensive than the books in Japanese. I suppose this is because of import taxes? Anyway, I ended up buying seven books for Aili, all in Japanese. They are all very colorful and introduce simple words to her. She was very excited to see them and started making all kinds of happy noises. She was also very interested in the shapes and colors she saw. I think her favorite was akachan okuru ehon.

2003-07-18T05:42:00.000+09:00

Say hello to Jasmine, an old friend of mine from the Mission district of San Francisco. She likes to spend her days lying around the house and playing games with her best friend Beauregard. Wouldn't you like to play with her?

2003-07-15T16:22:00.000+09:00

Thanks for a great semester everyone! Enjoy your summer vacation. Please say hello sometime by email or by making a comment on this page, especially for those of you going abroad in the fall. See you in late September.....but please keep reading.

2003-07-11T06:17:00.000+09:00

Hello everyone. Now that the end of the term is here, I know most of you are very busy with final papers and exams. For those of you in my reading/writing classes who happen to be absent on the final day and aren't able to hand in your writing portfolio, please contact me by email: apc33@rocketmail.com

Good luck.

2003-07-07T20:21:00.000+09:00

Here's a story about a man who survives on just liquids and sunlight alone! Read about it.

2003-07-07T20:19:00.000+09:00

For all you intercultural communications majors, please test your knowledge of geography.

2003-06-30T22:46:00.000+09:00

window
window
window
sky
setting free the dragonfly

by Robert Brady

from Pure Land Mountain

2003-06-30T22:38:00.000+09:00

Want some quick writing practice? One good way is to free write, which is like "thinking aloud on paper". It's good for your fluency. Try some free writing at oneword. You can post your results to add to their database.

Yet another great link from J-Walk.

2003-06-27T06:13:00.000+09:00

Have a look at some photos of Kamasagaki, a slum in southern Osaka. It is home to thousands of day laborers and homeless people. What do you think? Link via Plep.

2003-06-20T00:03:00.000+09:00

Please check out some of the following links for self-study in reading:

Ohio ESL: a great resource for reading.
ESL Independent Study Lab: another comprehensive reading resource.

National Geographic Features: fascinating reading with photos.
Online Reading Lessons: several good reading exercises.
Ways of Knowing: explore an African forest, from the Brookfield Zoo.
Short Stories: read a story, play some games.

2003-06-12T20:47:00.000+09:00

It's amazing how time flies! It's already the 12th of June, which means there are only five weeks left in the semester. I hope you are all staying dry during this humid rainy season we're having. So if any of you find yourself indoors and you have shockwave player, try out these music games from the BBC. They're all very amusing. The link was taken from my favorite blog: J-Walk.

2003-06-06T05:50:00.000+09:00

Hi there. I'm back from a very educational trip to India where I attended a wonderful workshop on service learning, which is a form of experiential learning whereby students meet the needs of a 'community partner' by performing some type of help as part of their academic study. In addition to the workshop, I also got a chance to hang-out with some incredible Indian people, eat lots of tasty food, and do a bit of shopping in my free time. This being my second trip, I have grown to love the people and culture of India, in spite of the problems that a developing country like India has. I hope one day I can take my family there for an extended travel vacation. There's no better way to learn than experience!

2003-06-02T00:54:00.000+09:00

Classroom Assignment for Tuesday, June 3rd, 4th period, E3rwT-tuesday:

Greetings students. I'm on my way back from India and cannot make class today. Please follow these instructions carefully.

1. Pair up with another student.

2. Today you will use the internet for reading practice by going on an animal safari. The first step is for you and your partner to make a print-out of your guide sheet, which can be found HERE.

3. Please use a search engine like Google or Yahoo to locate the appropriate information. Then, use a pen or pencil to fill-out the guide sheet.

4. After you are finished, please sign your names on the guide sheet and turn it in to Randell-sensei at the end of class.

5. If you finish early, please use the remaining class time to explore the learning resource links on the left and right sides of this page.

Good luck and have fun. I will see you again on Tuesday, June 13th. Bye!

2003-05-23T00:04:00.000+09:00

CLASS CANCELLATION NOTICE:

I will be attending a service learning conference in India. All classes are cancelled on May 27th and May 30th.

On Tuesday June 3rd, English Seminar (1st period), English 14 (2nd period), and English 15 (3rd period) are cancelled. However, there will be class for E3rwT-tues (4th period). If you are in this class, please make sure you attend.

Any questions? Email me: apc33@rocketmail.com

2003-05-19T19:02:00.000+09:00

That's Charlie, our resident cockroach. We usually see him in the evening, around dinner time. He likes to crawl around on the wall, always observing what we're doing. He's quite friendly too. Sometimes I let him crawl on my arm. I think he likes feeling the warmth of my skin. Please be friendly to cockroaches - they're not bad creatures.

2003-05-19T18:59:00.000+09:00

If you'd like to experiment with translation, try Babelfish, the online translation tool. If I were you, I would only use a Babelfish translation as a guide, not as a finished product. I have experimented with some of the translations between Japanese and English, many of which were not very good. Be careful.

2003-05-17T17:14:00.000+09:00

Please have a look at Yukie Tao's journal. I think it is an excellent example of how a student learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL) can use a blog to improve his or her English while at the same time meeting new people from around the world.

2003-05-13T06:34:00.000+09:00

Get listening practice while learning about news from an American perspective at VOA news. You might even hear some propaganda too!