Although English is written entirely differently from a script like Kanji, individual words - such as names – do have a special meaning similar to the meaning found in Kanji.
For example, my name, Michael is derived from the Hebrew name Mikha’el, which is a question meaning “Who is like God?” (The implication being that nothing is like God!).
In the Hebrew tradition, Michael was one of the archangels. Michael is listed as the only archangel (the highest form of the angels) in the Bible, where he appears in the Old Testament’s Book of Daniel as a protector of Israel.
The archangel Michael is also considered a saint in the Catholic Church and is said to have led the battle against Lucifer when he rebelled against God.
The spelling is very important as the sound "EL" means God. There is, however, another more recent spelling; Micheal which does not have the ancient meaning and is often changed into a nickname such as Mike or Mickey.
Best wishes,
Michael.
In Australia there is something of a tradition when someone finishes High school and moves on to University.
Often these students will be gifted a copy of Dr Seuss` story book "Oh! the places you`ll go!"
Some families will decorate the book or write encouraging messages in it, some get teachers to also sign the book.
For many students, entering University is the first time they get to choose what they want to do and study, and what path they want to follow, so the story can be a great comfort
"You have Brains in your head, and feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose"
You have the power to become who you want to be, even if it`s a bit scary. Recently one of my students told me that she has passed her university entrance exam, so I have to say to her
"You`re off to great places,
today is YOUR day,
You`re off on adventure,
You`re off on your way!"
`C` you are going to do wonderful things, and you will have all of your teachers, friends and family at your back the whole way!
-Jordan Sensei
アミティーの自習スペースは、ご送迎スケジュールにあわせてご利用可能です♪早く着くのも、レッスン後に残るのもOK！小学校帰りに宿題を済ませてからレッスンを受ける生徒さんも沢山います。勉強がはかどると大好評です!お家に帰ってからも楽でいいですね!😊
This week I got to go on an adventure to a different Amity school for a day,
Even though it was very familiar, It also felt very refeshing and different.
Even if you are doing the same things you normally do, a change of scenery can be exciting and can make boring activities interesting again. So I recommend everyone try something new every once in a while, sit in a different room to study, take your book to the park or out into the garden. Let small changes feel big and see how it makes you feel too!
-Jordan Sensei
Most if not all the Eiken results are and in and we have been handing out certificates this week.
We will probably hand out the rest next week. I am extremely proud of all my students who passed their Eiken exams!
All my students who wrote 4th and 5th grade all passed! My student "H" scored a G+7, so did my other student "E".
One of my students "W", scored an amazing G+13! That is almost the highest level one can achieve and I am so proud of her! She works really diligently in class every week and it shows! She had an almost perfect score for her listening!
I am so proud of everyone! Welldone!
- Khanya (Kay) Sensei
昨年の秋からスタートした、初めての習い事コース。今では大人気コースです！月２回で無理なく通えると大変喜ばれています🎵人間の脳は1～3歳の間に著しく発達する為、英語脳を育てるには3歳までが良いとされています。6ヶ月のベビーちゃんから4歳年少さん、アミティーで楽しく英語デビューしましょう🎀
Writing is a vital part of learning a language and the English spelling "rules" often confuse both young learners and adults.
This confusion is famously highlighted when the word "ghoti" can be legitimately pronounced as "fish"!
How?
By pronouncing gh as in enough, o as in women, and ti as in nation!
Even famous English writers have had difficulty with spelling.
As A.A. Milne (the author of Winnie The Pooh) said;
"My spelling is Wobbly. It's good spelling but it Wobbles, and the letters get in the wrong places".
I wish all my students well with the challenges of spelling.
Michael.
Across the world, every country has their own holidays and traditions, some which may seem unusual to people in other cultures.
Today I`d like to share about an English tradition that I always found curious when I was growing up.
The 5th of November is known as Guy Fawkes night, or Bonfire night. Many countries hold bonfires around October or November to celebrate the harvest, the change of seasons, and many other positive things, but Bonfire night celebrates a far Angrier topic.
In 1605 a man named Guy Fawkes and his aquaintances tried to blow up their government building, The house of Lords, because they had become fed up with how the laws were being made to only help the already wealthy people, however this plan failed and they were all arrested in the end.
From this scheme we began the tradition of Bonfire Night and a new Poem was written and taught to children
"Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."
-Jordan Sensei
There is a curious fact about some of our months that I`d like to tell you today.
September, October, November and December got their names a long time ago, before English was English, and when it shared it`s latin base with a lot of European languages like French, Spanish and Italian.
In these languages the numbers can sound very similar, September means "the Seventh", October means "The Eighth", November means "The Ninth" and December means "The Tenth".
But wait! they aren`t 7, 8, 9 and 10! they`re 9, 10, 11 and 12! This is because of Ancient Rulers of the Roman Empire in Europe, Julius Caeser and and Augustus Caeser, To celebrate their power, the Caesers made a new calendar for their people to follow, The Julian Calendar, one that added July and August in the most important part of the year, this is the calendar that most of the world still uses now!
This is why our year has 12 months and those months are named after numbers that they do not match.
History can be so interesting sometimes!
-Jordan Sensei
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