Friday, December 12, 2008

東洋学園大学 Travel English 2008 Semester 2 - Last class!


Today is the last class. The next time we meet will be the final exam. The final exam is on the nineth of January. The final exam covers units 2,3,4,5,7,9,12,14,15,16, and 20. Please click here to practice the final exam: Passport Online tests. Merry Christmas!

東洋学園大学 Annual Christmas Party in the English Lounge

Yesterday was a special day at Toyo Gakuen University. It was the annual Christmas Party. It was fun.
Cara taught students and teachers how to decorate gingerbead men. Many students enjoyed decorating gingerbread men.
Trang taught students and teachers how to make Christmas cards. Everyone made beautiful cards.
There was food including: sandwiches, cookies, Japanese Christmas cake and German Christmas cake. Also, Cara made humus. It was delicious. Humus is Middle Eastern food. It's not traditional Christmas food but it's healthy and delicious.
Mr Hardy was the Bingo caller again this year. He did a fine job. There were other games too.
There was a performance of Amazing Grace by Toyo Gakuen's gospel choir too. The highlight of the party was the raffle. Nobu won the iPod. Congratulations Nobu!

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Friday, December 05, 2008

東洋学園大学 Interest-based English - Travel: Peace Boat and Global English Special Presentation


Today Takahashi Maho and Chris Massey from Peace Boat gave a special presentation in the Travel English class. The topic was Global English. We learned some interesting things including:
  • There are about 2,000,000,000 English speakers in the world
  • There are only about 400,000,000 native speakers of English in the world
  • Only about 10% of all the English spoken in the world is between native speakers
  • There is no "correct" English
We learned that the following sentences were correct in some countries:
  • I went play in the park. (Hawaiian English)
  • I am understanding it. (Indian English)
  • Him will do it. (Jamaican English)
  • Yous are amazing! (American English)
  • This book you want or not? (Singaporean English)
The lessons we learned were:
  • There is no correct English
  • We should be proud of our accent
  • Global English belongs to everyone

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Peace Boat is coming


Tomorrow we will have some special guests in our class. Takahashi Maho and Chris Massey from Peace Boat are coming. Peace Boat is an NGO. The Peace Boat sails three times a year. The Peace Boat travels around the world. Maho-san will talk about Peace Boat's GET programme. GET means Global English Training. She will also talk about where the Peace Boat goes and what the people on the Peace Boat do.
It's going to be great!

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English 12 Music: Project 2 Lesson 2


Today we are going to get started on our second project. Click here to see your assignment: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/toyo-gakuen-university-interest-based_26.html

Here are some links to help you:
Nippop.com
Wikipedia in English
Wikipedia in Japanese
Google

Your powerpoint must be finished by the fourteenth of January.

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English: Christmas in Tarragona


Today we are going to learn about Christmas in Tarragona, a city in Northern Spain. We are going to watch slideshows by students in one of our International Sister Classes. They are students at a school called IES Collblanc.
Please do the following:
  • Open the lecture folder
  • Save the file called "Tarragona" to your personal folder (自分のふぉフォルダー)
  • Click the link: TARRAGONA & CHRISTMAS
  • Log in to Student Showcase
  • Watch the slideshows.
  • Do the tasks on your tasksheet.
  • Write a comment about the slideshows. Include:
    • Your first name (名前)
    • Thank you
    • Your impression of Tarragona (~の[に対する]印象を述べる)
    • Your impression of Christmas in Tarragona
Enjoy!!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

ETJ Tokyo Expo at Toyo Gakuen University Hongo Campus

Today and tomorrow the ETJ Tokyo Expo is at Toyo Gakuen University Hongo campus. Toyo Gakuen University students are participating as volunteers. Toyo Gakuen University teachers are participating as organisers and presenters. I am presenting tomorrow.

My powerpoint presentation is below.



This is a slideshow of a list roll I made for my presentation.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Shopping


In todays lesson we will learn about shopping.
Let's practice what we have learned from the textbook. Click this link: Passport Online.

Click this link to learn about famous shopping areas in London: London's favourite shopping streets.
Click this link to learn and practice some more shopping vocabulary. Shopping vocabulary, useful phrases, dialogues, games and tests.
Click these links to listen to conversations in London shops: Listen 1: Buying a pair of shoes. Listen 2: Buying a pair of jeans.. Finally, there are many more great sites listed on the website for Academie Nancy-Metz. Click this link: http://www.ac-nancy-metz.fr/enseign/anglais/Henry/mag.htm.

More Haiku by Toyo Gakuen University Extension Centre students



Fried Ginko Nuts, originally uploaded by Soo Ching.
Here are two more haikus. Students in my Toyo Gakuen University extension Centre class wrote these haiku. The first haiku has a 2/7/3 syllable pattern. The kigo is ginko nut. The second has a traditional 5/7/5 syllable pattern. The kigo are shrimp, salmon and oysters. Enjoy!

I found
A ginko nut near my house
in the park

by Kuniko

What is in my fridge?
Shrimp, salmon, and oysters are
I cannot eat more

by Miki

Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 2 - Reading Midterm Exam Study Guide



So many "Happy Mondays"! Your midterm exam is very late. Your midterm exam is Monday the first of December. Here is your study guide:
The exam will cover Units 6-9. There will be 6 types of questions:
  1. Timed reading: scan a reading for 1 minute in order to find specific information. This is a multiple choice type question.
  2. Reading for the main idea. This is a multiple choice type of question. You will have to choose from 4 choices.
  3. Reading for details. This is a multiple choice type of question. You will have to choose from 4 choices.
  4. Making inferences. This is a multiple choice type of question. You will have to choose from 4 choices.
  5. Matching activities: A. Match the vocabulary from the textbook with the Japanese translation. B. collocations.
  6. Personal response. This is a short paragraph type of answer. You will have to write 2 or 3 sentences in order to answer the question. Your answer should be at least 50 words.
The test will be 60 minutes.
Use the following resources in order to study for the exam:


Also, review these posts from Mr. Stout's Blog: Unit 7 - Celebrity Interview , Unit 8 - Dilemmas and look at these posts from Sarah's Blog: Unit 6, Unit 7, Unit 8.
Good luck!

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English 12 Music. Project 2. Lesson 1.

Today we are going to start our second project. The second project is a powerpoint presentation about your favourite musical artist.
First, let's watch some of the presentations made by students last semester. Watch the presentations and answer the questions on the document called IE12 Powerpoint Questions. The document is in the lecture folder.



Now it's your turn. Here's your assignment:
Make a powerpoint presentation about a musical artist that you like.
Here's your project checklist:
  • at least 5 slides in total
  • a title slide
  • a background slide including:
For bands:

    1. When the band was formed
    2. Where the band was formed
    3. The members of the band
    4. The genre
    5. The most popular song
    6. Awards, trivia, record label (choose one)

For solo artists:

    1. Where the artist was born
    2. When the artist was born
    3. The artist's instrument
    4. The genre
    5. The most popular song
    6. Awards, trivia, record label (choose one)
  • Two or more slides for profiles, discography, concerts (choose one)

Have fun!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English: Unit 9 - At a restaurant

Today we are going to learn some useful English for restaurants. First let's listen to two conversation's from Randall's ESL Cyber Listening Lab. First, Heavenly Restaurant. Listen to the conversation and do the tasks. Next, Joe's Hamburger Restaurant.Listen to the conversation and do the tasks. Now, let's watch a funny video made by my friend Paul Carr: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Shibaura Institute of Technology Paragraph Writing 2 students write about their favourite architectural structures

The students in the Paragraph Writing 2 class have been doing some very good work. Below are some examples. Enjoy!

Seto bridge is a famous bridge in Kagawa and Okayama. It connects Kagawa and Okayama. It is a very large and long bridge, 9,368 meters long. It consists of three structures: two different styles of suspension bridge and a truss bridge. It has a four-lane expressway and a two-lane railroad. The Shikoku district has not Shinkansen, but it has plan for building a Shinkansen road. So Seto bridge was designed that it can add more two railroads. Its color is light gray. This color suits this place. You can see a beautiful view of the Seto Inland Sea when you drive or get into a train.
Ayana S.
Yokohama Landmark tower is a famous building. It is the tallest building made of concrete in Japan.  It is 295.8 meters high. This building has 70 floors. It is made of concrete, glass and steel. The lower floors contain shops, restaurants, clinics, and offices. A hotel occupies forty-nineth to seventieth floors. This building has very many facilities. Yokohama Landmark tower is my favorite building.
Satomi Y.
This is a famous building in Kyoto. It is a tall building, 131meters high. It consists of two structures: a tall tower and a rectangular structure. The tower is on the rectangular structure. The rectangular structure is hotel and shopping area. You can get a great view of the city from a viewing platform at the top of the tower. The building is made of concrete, glass and iron. The building was made in 1964. This building is called Kyoto Tower.
Kohei K
This is a famous tower in Tokyo. It is a very large and tall building, 333 meters high. It is the tallest tower in Tokyo. It was built in 1958. The color of the building is red and white. It has a rectangular base and an antenna. The antenna is cylindrical and thin. The tower has a big observatory 150m from the ground and a small observatory 250m from the ground. You can get a great view of the city from the big observatory and the small observatory. The tower is made of concrete and glass. It is used mainly for a transmitter tower. It is a symbol of Tokyo. It is Tokyo Tower.
Akitsugu K.
Horyu-ji is a famous building in Japan. It is an old temple in Nara and it was built by Prince Shotoku in 607 A.D. There is a five-storied pagoda in it, which is 24 meters high. Horyu-ji is the oldest wooden building in existence. At the gate of Horyu-ji, a pair of Kongorikishi statues stands. In 1993, Horyu-ji was registered on the UNESCO World Heritage List. So, all Japanese know this temple.
Yukiya A.
This is a famous building in Kyoto, which many people visit. It is small. It is three stories high. Although it was burned in 1950, it was rebuilt in 1955. You cannot enter it because it is old, thin and fragile. The building is made of wood and it is gilded. It was designed by Yoshimitsu Ashikaga. It is beautiful. It is a Kinkakuji.
Yuki K.
The building is a university. It is located in Toyosu. Its material is reinforced concrete and its color is gray. Its shape is like The Arche de Triomphe. The size is about 25 meters high. The building has many windows, and has over 15 floors. You can get a great view of the city from the top floor. This building is S.I.T. Toyosu campus.
Daichi M.
It is a famous building in Australia. It is a concert hall where orchestras play. It was designed by John Utsson, and made in 1973. It consists of the concert hall, the opera theater, the drama theater, the playhouse, and the studio theater. It is 180-meters in height. So, it is very high. It is a sharp face. It is made of granite and plywood. 1,056,500 tiles that were made in Sweden are
on the roof. These tiles are very beautiful, and this building is a famous sightseeing spot. I like this place seen from the river. Especially, in the evening it is beautiful.
Shun T.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Taking the bus

Today we are going to study Unit 14: Could you tell me when we're there please?
In today's lesson we will learn useful English that we can use on a bus.
First, let's practice some vocabulary. Click this link: Travel English Vocabulary: Using Public Transportation.
Here's a video about taking a bus in Tel Aviv, Isreal. Watch the video and do the quiz. There are 5 questions in the quiz.




Now, use the Currency conversion exchange widget on the right side of this page. How much is 10 Isreali sheqels in yen?

Click the link for more information on travelling in Isreal.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Homestays in Burundi, Portugal, The United States, and Tahiti

Today we are going to watch some videos about homestays in Burundi, Portugal, The United States and Tahiti.

First let's practice some vocabulary. Click this link: http://www.wordchamp.com/lingua2/List.do?packItemID=123832930159397048

Now watch the videos. Answer the questions below for each video:

  1. Where do homestay guests stay?
  2. What do homestay guests eat?
  3. What do homestay guests do?
A Homestay in Burundi, Africa


A Homestay in Portugal



A Homestay in San Francisco



A Homestay in Tahiti



Which homestay holiday would you like to do?
Leave a comment.

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English Semester 2 Music Genres Presentation



Music Genres Slide Show Project Checklist

Are you finished your part of our slideshow? Use the checklist below:
You are finished if you can check every box.
I have…
  • uploaded a picture (1 point)
  • given the picture a title.(1 point)
  • included the URL of the picture (1 point)
  • recorded my talk (2 points)
  • recorded three questions about my talk (2 points)
  • answered the questions asked by all members of the class (8 points)
  • participated in a conversation of at least 6 turns with two people (5 points)
Total score is 20 points

If you are finished, click this link: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/toyo-gakuen-university-interest-based.html
Watch the powerpoint presentations made by the students in last semester's class.
Enjoy!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Haiku by Toyo Gakuen University Extension Centre Students

Writing English Haiku is fun and useful. Writing Haiku helps you learn vocabulary and pronunciation.
Here are some haiku. Students in my extension centre classes at Toyo Gakuen University wrote these haiku. All these haiku are traditional in form: They all have three lines. They have a 5/7/5 syllable pattern and they have kigo (季語). Kigo are words that reflect the season. In these haiku the kigo are persimmon (柿) and crab (カニ). Persimmons and crab are eaten in autumn in Japan.
Enjoy!
Houryuji
I eat persimmon
Remember Nara Temple
I come back happy
by Masayuki

Persimmon eating
I hear the ring of a bell sound
Houryuji Temple
by Yoshio

Persimmon
Persimmon


I want to eat crab
Every year in winter but
very expensive
by Masako

What a delicious
cuisine in the world you are
We call you a crab
by Kayoko


Originally uploaded by panduh

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12: Music. If Everyone Cared by Nickelback

Today we are going to watch a video by Nickelback. Watch the video and do the quiz.

I've posted about this song before.
Click here to see the earlier post: http://mrstoutsblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/y-ou-can-make-difference-video-by.html

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

November 11th: Remembrance Day, a day of Peace



lest we forget, originally uploaded by striatic.
Every year in November, people in Canada, Britain, America, Australia, New Zealand and many other countries wear poppies. You can see a poppy in the picture above. We wear the poppy to help us remember all the young men and women killed in war. We also wear the poppy to help us think of peace. World War 1 ended on the 11th of November 1919 at 11 o'clock. At 11 o'clock today please stop. Be quiet for one minute. Remember all the people who we have lost. Remember all the sadness of war. Think of the joy of peace. Let's do our best to make peace everywhere.
Here is a beautiful poem. A Canadian soldier in World War 1 wrote the poem. I memorised the poem when I was a school boy. I recited the poem every Remembrance Day. I think it's a beautiful poem. I hope you do too.

In Flanders Fields


In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Sunday, November 09, 2008

Shibaura Institute of Technology English Conversation Intermediate 2 Mid-term Exam Study Guide

The midterm exam is next Saturday. You can prepare by practicing the tasks in the study guide that I sent to you by e-mail.
This video will help you do the second task.
Good luck!

Friday, November 07, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 7


Hmmm that looks good, originally uploaded by mick62.
Unit 9: Are you ready to order?
Today we will learn useful English we can use in a restaurant.
Here's a funny video about ordering food in a restaurant.


The Smallest Restaurant in the World from mmmarzio on Vimeo.

Now let's practice.
  1. Click here: Passport Online.
  2. Move your cursor to 9 Are you ready to order
  3. Move your cursor to 9a What kind of food is this?
  4. Do the task
  5. Move your cursor to 9b Find the differences
  6. Do the task
  7. Click here: Passport Online tests
  8. Do the practice test
Enjoy!

Thursday, November 06, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English 2008 Midterm Exam Study Guide

The midterm exam is on Wednesday, the 12th of November 2008. The midterm exam will have 3 parts:
Part 1: Vocabulary.
You must know the following words and phrases from your textbook:
  • perplexing
  • willing
  • expression
  • intimate
  • inquire about
  • transition
  • curiosity
  • affection
  • dialect
  • widen one’s horizons
Study the vocabulary. Click this link: TGU IE2 Homestay Midterm Exam 2008 List.

Part2: Multiple choice questions about Units 1 - 6 in your textbook.

Part3: 2 short paragraph answer type questions. You will be asked to write one or two paragraphs for each question. Your answer should be between 50 words and 100 words.
Here are the questions:

*Describe a homestay trip that you would like to do in the future. Include the following points:
  • Where you would like to do a homestay.
  • Why you want to do a homestay.
  • How you would prepare for the homestay.
  • The type of homestay family you would like. For example: an older couple with no children, or a young couple with young children.
  • What you would like to do during the homestay.
*Describe two problems that you think you might have during a homestay. Why do you think you will have these problems? What will you do in order to overcome these problems?

Study hard and good luck!

Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12: Music. Yesterday by the Beatles

Here is a video of Paul McCartney singing Yesterday. Watch the video and do the quiz.



Now watch Yesterday with Japanese translation. Click this link: http://jp.yappr.com/welcome/Video.action?videoGuid=EB6EEBCA-C89A-4E64-81F0-CBF9BE3B2D21
Enjoy!!

PAC 7 at JALT 2008 - teachers and students learning together


AsianYouthForumMontage, originally uploaded by mick62.

Last weekend an amazing event happened at the National Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Yoyogi, Tokyo. The event was PAC 7 at JALT 2008. Students and teachers from Japan, Russia, and all over Asia took part in the event. One of the most impressive parts of the event was the Asian Youth Forum. Students from Asian countries took part in workshops and made presentations. They shared their culture and they shared their ideas.
Toyo Gakuen University teachers took part in the event too including Andy, Sarah, Claire, Cara, and me. Some Toyo Gakuen students volunteers as interns too. I hope more Toyo Gakuen University students will get involved next time.

Asian Youth Forum participants performing their native songs and dances.

Asian Youth Forum participants at the opening ceremony of PAC 7 at JALT 2008.

Yoko, a Toyo Gakuen student, serving as an intern at the conference.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 6


https://www.pexels.com/search/doctor/

Unit 7: How do you feel.
In today's lesson we will learn some English we can use at the doctor's office.
Here's a video. Click this link: A Visit to the Doctor
Now let's practice. Click this link: Passport Online
Next, let's do a practice test. Click this link: Passport Online Test - Japanese

The midterm test is next Friday, 7 November 2008. You need to study units 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7.

Remember, if you study and prepare, the test will be easy.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 - Music Genres. Lesson 4

Image by lastyearsgirl

Today we are going to continue our first project.
First lets listen to a song by a great Jazz musician, Louis Armstrong. Click this link: http://jp.yappr.com/welcome/Video.action?videoGuid=F4E844F5-347D-46B5-8242-E974FBCB911D
Now let's practice some vocabulary. Click this link: Music Vocabulary list 2
Now let's go to our project. Click this link: Voicethread
For information on Classical music click here: http://www.diigo.com/annotated/69139a95ca420bf398392782f19488cf
For information on R & B click here:
You can find pictures on flickr. Click here:

Enjoy!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English: Unit 6 - Meeting and talking with people

Today we will learn about meeting people and talking to people.
First, let's review some vocabulary. Please click this link: TGU IE2 Travel List 2.
Now let's join the International Sister Classes Forum. http://edublogs.org/wp-signup.php
Click here to see the Sister Classes Forum: http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/sister-class-forum/
Next let's watch the video and answer the questions in the textbook.

Friday, October 24, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 5


View Larger Map

Unit 5: Go straight along Seventh Avenue
Today we are going to practice directions. We will practice asking for directions, and listening to directions.
First, let's practice some vocabulary.
Click this link: Travel Unit 5: Directions
Let's play a game. Click this link: http://www.studystack.com/menu-141943

Now let's practice using Passport Online
Finally let's do a practice test.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 - Music Genres. Lesson 3

Today we will begin our voicethread project. Before we begin our project, let's watch an interview with Ken Hirai. After you watch the interview, take the quiz.


Now let's start our project.
If you haven't decided which genre you want to research, click this link to find lists of music styles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_music_styles
If you have decided which genre that you want to research, find the wikipedia page that you need. Here are some links for popular musical genres: Rock, J-Pop, Traditional Japanese music, Gospel, Classical, Blues, World Music, Hip Hop, Trance, Jazz, R&B.

Look at the picture below. The picture shows you where to click to see a wikipedia article in Japanese.
Here's a link to help you find pictures: http://creativecommons.org/image/
You can also find pictures on flickr. Click here: http://www.flickr.com/
Also, please read this article about copyright: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/著作権
Finally, please read this article about Creative Commons licences: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.1/jp/

Ok, let's get started!

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 5: Communicating with your homestay family

In today's lesson we will learn how to communicate with our homestay family. Here are the lesson points:
  • Explaining your gift
  • Explaining your hometown
  • Personal Questions
You will practice explaining your hometown by explaining your hometown to some students in the international Sister Classes Forum.



Let's get started. Click here to open an Edubloggers' account: http://edublogs.org/wp-signup.php
Click here to see the Sister Classes Forum: http://esleflstudents.edublogs.org/sister-class-forum/

Sunday, October 19, 2008

A Model Language Learner: Ayumi Okada

It's very useful to have a role model. A language learning role model is very useful. Last year, I posted a video interview with Miho on the Daily English Show. Miho is a model language learner. Last April, I wrote about my friend Sanae. Sanae is a model language learner. Today, I'm going to write about another model language learner, Ayumi Okada. Ayumi was a student at Kanto International High School. When Ayumi started at Kanto she couldn't speak English much at all. She was in the Regular course, not the English course. So, she didn't have many English classes, and she didn't have many native English speaking teachers. However, she joined the World School Society. As a member of the World School Society she attended the World School International Forums in Japan and in the United States. She made friends with young people from all over the world.


Ayumi is very very musical. Her dream was to study music in the U.K. So, she asked me to help her prepare for the IELTS exam. I did. She got a great score and she was able enter a college in the U.K. Now she is studying Popular Music and Record Production at Southampton Solent University. She presents a radio programme on SIN Radio. The radio programme is called D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway. You can listen to D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway on the internet. Her radio programme is on Thursdays from three o'clock to five o'clock Greenwich Mean Time, that's 11 pm. to 1 am. Japan Standard Time. Look at the picture below. Click this link: http://www.sinradio.co.uk/site/?function=schedule. Click "Listen".



D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway is very good. I listen to D.J. Yummy's Japanese Takeaway. I hope you will too.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 Music Genres. Lesson 2

Today we are going to continue working on our first project.
First, let's start by watching a Bob Marley video. Bob Marley was a reggae artist. Click this link to see the video: Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry.


Image by "Uh,Clem..."

Look at the picture below. Bob Marley was born in this house.

Image by David E. Waldren


Here's some information about Reggae:

Reggae was developed in Jamaica in the late sixties. Larry Marshall recorded the first reggae record in 1968. The record was called "Nanny Goat".

Reggae has these musical characteristics:

  • 4/4 or Swing time
  • Simple chords repeated
  • a hypnotic effect (催眠効果)

Some famous reggae artists are: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, and UB40

Some famous reggae songs are: "I Shot the Sheriff", The Harder They Come", and "Red Red Wine".

The main musical instruments used in reggae are guitars, bass, drums and sometimes horns.


Next, let's practice some vocabulary. Click this link: Music Vocabulary List 4.
Now, let's review last week's lesson.
Now lets begin our project. Click here: Voicethread.

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 4: Fitting into American Homelife

In today's lesson we will learn about helping around the house, helping yourself, and using the phone. Let's learn some vocabulary first. Click this link TGU IE2 Homestay List 3.
What chores do you do at home? Please leave a comment.

Toyo Gakuen University Freshman English 4 - Semester 2 Test 1 Study Guide


Image by estherase

The time has come. You will take your first test of semester 2 in your next class. Here's your task:

Roles: Caller, Receiver
Situation: There's a Hallowe'en Party in the English Lounge
Tasks:
A. Caller
  1. Call your new English friend Chrissie.
  2. When a different person answers your call, ask if you can leave a message for your friend.
  3. Leave a message:
a. Say your name
b. Spell your name
c. Say your telephone number
d. Say the day, time, and location of the party

B. Receiver
  1. Answer the call
  2. Take a message
  3. Check the information: caller's name, telephone number, details of the message
Click these links to prepare for the test:
Unit 7 - Special Occasions
Taking and leaving a phone message
Pronunciation of "th"

Remember! If you prepare and practice you will get an "A".

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Interest-based English - Travel: Lesson 4


Image by Dash House

Unit 4: Do you have any vacancies.
Today we are going to learn about reserving a room in a hotel. First, let's review some vocabulary and learn some new words too. Click this link:Travel English E-J .
Now let's play some games and practice what we've learned from the textbook. Click here: Passport Online. Next, let's research some hotels. Click here: HotelTravel.com. Download the worksheet below. Do the task. Save the document in your folder.


Finally, let's do a practice test. Click here: Passport Tests.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University IE-12 Music: Project 1 - Music Genres. Lesson 1

Today we are going to talk about music genres.

First, let's learn some vocabulary. Click the link: Music vocabulary list 2
Now let's watch two slideshows. I made the first slideshow. Toyo Gakuen University students made the next slide show. Make a coment.
My Slideshow about music genres


Toyo Gakuen Students slideshow about music genres



Here's a playlist of African music videos.



Here's a playlist of Jazz videos.



Click here to see a playlist of calyspo and soca videos: http://uk.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=7B5A9CDAFBFF6AEA

Now it's your turn to make a slide show about music genres.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Toyo Gakuen University Homestay English Unit 3: At Dinner

In today's lesson we will learn about different kinds of food. Also, we will learn about good table manners.

Japanese eat a morning meal (朝食), a midday meal (昼食) and an evening meal (夕食). Many people in other countries eat these meals too. So three meals a day is common everywhere, but sometimes the food is different.

In Canada, many people skip breakfast on weekdays. Some people only have a very light breakfast on weekdays. For example, some people just have coffee. Some people just drink a glass of juice. Some people eat fruit. Some people have a muffin and a coffee.


A muffin and a coffee is, perhaps, the most common weekday breakfast in Canada. Many people eat breakfast on the way to work. They buy a muffin and a coffee at fast-food restaurants including: Tim Hortons, Coffee Time, and Second Cup.


On weekends, sometimes Canadians eat big breakfasts. Click this link to see some popular breakfasts in Canada: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mc_sensei/sets/72157607825427625/

Britain is famous for it's breakfast. What kinds of food are in a full British breakfast? Click the link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joits/164373609/


Click this link to learn about breakfast around the world:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breakfast#Typical_breakfasts_by_world_regions

The midday meal in the United States and Canada is called lunch.
Click this link to read the wikipedia article about lunch in English: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunch
Click this link to read the wikipedia article about lunch in Japanese: http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E6%98%BC%E9%A3%9F

The picture below is a picture of me having lunch at my aunt's house.

Look at the table. Many Canadians serve each dish in a separate bowl or on a separate plate and put the dishes in the middle of the table. Everyone serves themselves. This is very convenient. You can take the dishes that you like.

You can see the dishes I chose in the picture below. Click the picture. What kind of food is on my plate?



Lunch, originally uploaded by mick62.

Now, let's learn about dinner.
Dinner is the main meal. In Canada, people eat dinner in the evening. In some countries, including Trinidad, people eat dinner in the afternoon. In England, dinner is called tea.

Finally, let's learn about table manners in America and some general etiquette in Canada and the United States.

Bon Appétit