This week, sadly, I`ve had to say goodbye to one of my Adult students, `T`.
`T` only took English lessons with me for a short while, but his enthusiasm was so contagious, every week he would come to class and dilligently take notes on the vocabulary and expressions we were learning.
`T` also loves games, and so a good portion of our lesson would be our conversation held over the top of a game of Reversi. Despite his claims otherwise, I was blown away again and again by `T`s strong vocabulary and understanding of English, what he needed most of all was confidence and a foundation for when to use what he already knew.
I think this is something that reflects in many language learners, when you are surrounded by Native speakers, you feel like you know less than you actually do. One day, you`ll surprise yourself and realise all at once just how far you`ve come!
-Jordan Sensei
みなさんこんにちは！
本日は、小学校低学年クラスのお話をいたします。
4人いるこのクラス。
みんな積極的に発話をし、お互いにわからないことがあれば助け合う姿がよく見られます。
そんな4人で、その日の構文'She/He is ~ing.'の練習のため、ジェスチャーゲームをしました！
2チームに分かれて、前に出た2人は画面の答えを確認し、その間ほかの子たちには目を閉じてもらいます。
確認出来たら、'Open your eyes!'といい、前にいる2人にはジェスチャーをしてもらいました。
答えるチームは2人で相談しながら英語を思い出し、一緒に'I know!'と大きな声で言い、答えを発表してもらいました。
その日の構文だけでなく、日常英会話も混ぜながら楽しくアクティビティをしています。
これからもみんなで協力しながらいろいろなアクティビティを英語でしましょう！
福田
I rarely talk about my interactive students but I had to share about my student "S".
She has made so much improvement with regards to her typing.
She struggled to get her japoanse typing speed up in the beginning but lately she has
been picking up speed more and more every week.
One particular activity, in the Conan Typing program, where the student have to type
and break bricks is one we use to test her speed.
She started off with breaking only 1 brick in 3 minutes.
She then held steady at 2 bricks in 3 minutes but for the last two classes
she has broken 4 and 5 bricks!
I am so proud of her! She has not only improved her speed but her accuracy as well.
I hope she continues breaking barriers and reaching new heights!
- Khanya (Kay) Sensei
I love hiking and there are some amazing treks around Kure; Yasumiyama, Haigamine and Norosan.
Learning English is like climbing a mountain: it requires patience, persistence and practice.
Each new word is a step upward, while challenges like grammar and listening are the rocky paths.
And just like the hikes around Kure, the view from the top - fluency - makes all the effort worthwhile and rewarding. - Michael.
英検Jr.は、児童の英語能力の調査・研究を目的に、英語に親しみ、
外国の文化を理解することを目標として1994年に開発された、
児童向けの「育成型ゲーム感覚」のリスニングテストです🎶
英検Jr.の特徴は・・・❔
🌟オールリスニングのテスト
🌟成績は合否ではなく、「正答率」
🌟Bronze/Silver/Goldの３つのグレード
アミティーでは、今年も11月に英検ジュニアを実施予定です！
日頃のレッスンの成果を確認する良い機会ですので、ぜひ挑戦してみましょう😊
I have spoken many times before about how hard all of our students work, and how impressed with them I always am.
However, I worry that our students try to do too much sometimes.
Every time I speak to my Jr High school and High school students, I always hear about how busy they are, the mountains of homework, Even having to attend classes during what should be their vacation!
I think it is very important for each and every person to know their limits, to be able to look at their work and say "this is enough, I need to rest now" otherwise we live our lives always being tired, and we may stop loving learning!
Remember to take the time to listen to yourself and do what you need to do for your own wellbeing!
-Jordan Sensei
We have started giving out application forms for Eiken Jr this week.
Many students did very well last year and I hope that they can do even better this time round.
We have issued a small challenge to all the students to not only level up if their score was 80% or
higher but also to get the higest possible score they can!
I am excited for all my students to try their best and rise to the challenge. Most of them seem to be very excited about it,
especially my student "H", she thinks it is going to be really easy!
I am looking forward to this year's test and hopefully the Challenge will be accepted!
- Khanya (Kay) Sensei
雨降って地固まる。This simple Japanese proverb (ame futte jikata maru) is a perfect example of the experience of learning English. The literal translation is "the soil hardens after the rain". A similar proverb in English is "There's always a rainbow after the rain." For English language students, the "rain" is grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation and listening training and the "hard soil" is being able to express feelings, ideas and opinions in English; the joy of communication. - Michael.
It's hard to believe that we have already reached September!
Nine months into the year!
It feels like only yesterday that I was speaking to student about their cherry blossom-viewing picnics or their excitement for the start of the new school year.
In English we have a saying "Time Flies when you're Having Fun" and I feel like this year has marked that saying perfectly, every lesson and all the time spent with students has been so interesting that many times we have looked at the clock and realized 'oh! it's already time to go!'
I hope that the rest of our year can be just as interesting as it has been so far!
-Jordan Sensei
It's Raining, It's Pouring
The storm has touched down and we're seeing a lot of crazy winds and lots of heavy rain have been lashing Kure and the areas around.
The weather can be pretty scary sometimes, but mostly when I have asked my students they have only told me about how annoying it is! One student complained bitterly about how he couldn't play sports with his friends this weekend.
Another shared her frustrations at the wind and humidity ruining her hair and making her feel uncomfortable.
However I think the funniest reaction will forever be my older student 'M' lamenting at how the weather smells like "a wet dog". It is so interesting the way some students use English to express their ideas!
-Jordan Sensei
